Astronaut Inspires, in Good Times and Bad

How does a student who graduates from a rural high school class of 68 make her way into that elite group of individuals pushing the boundaries of science and technology? And what can she share with young people to inspire them on their paths to what they may become?

This past January, as I prepared to cover a speech by Whitson at her high school alma mater, I planned to write a story encouraging students to pursue careers in science and math. National studies continue to find that students are abandoning science and technology careers for business and other fields. Graduate programs in science and engineering report declines in admissions that could lead to a skills shortage and economic woes. By writing about Whitson and the space program, ACT could illustrate the importance of science careers with a story that could inspire all students regardless of their career interests.

I talked with Whitson briefly on the phone on a Wednesday, and I looked forward to the speech she would give the next Monday to high school students in her southern Iowa hometown. But it wasn’t to be. The speech was canceled when the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up upon re-entry that Saturday, February 1.

National news stories typically don’t affect the work I do for ACT, especially the ones earning “breaking news” graphics and somber tones from shaken reporters. My shock and concern when the news story hit the airwaves were accompanied by additional questions. While the national community raised questions about NASA funding, human flight, and the specifics of the Columbia accident, I wondered what it meant to the science education community and how the accident might change the original message I had intended.

Debates about the NASA program will continue, but I decided that the two main messages of my story remain unchanged—that a hard-working, committed individual can reach her career goals, and that science education plays an important role in society.

Indeed, following the accident, NASA continued to encourage students through this website message: “You may be wondering what you, as students, can do at a time like this. Actually, you can do a lot. Although you may be sad, we owe it to the Columbia crew to not give up; we must continue the journey they began. Continue to dream and to pursue your goals. Your families, teachers, and the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia would want you to be the best that you can be, in all that you do.”

Reaching for the Stars, Both Feet on the Ground

Peggy Whitson is human.

It’s important to remind yourself of that before thinking “the right stuff” and “the best and the brightest.” Granted, those terms do apply to Whitson, but hard work and persistence were just as important to becoming a NASA astronaut.

Whitson grew up on a farm near Beaconsfield, the smallest town in Iowa, with a population of fewer than 20. Without access to advanced classes or early college credits, Whitson took every science course she could at Mt. Ayr High School, graduating second in her class in 1978. Her basketball team, with a record of 24-2, made it within one game of the state basketball tournament. Her basketball coach has said that if a ball was loose on the floor, he knew Peggy would get it.

She was a student with a positive attitude who set goals and then worked hard to achieve them. One teacher reported that Whitson didn’t believe in “can’t.”

“When I was young,” Whitson says, “I thought being an astronaut would be a cool job. But what made it a goal for me was that the year I graduated from high school, NASA picked the first women to be astronauts. I thought, ‘I can do this.’ Luckily I didn’t know how hard it would be.”

Whitson says she was ignorant of how best to prepare to become an astronaut, but she knew she needed an education. She enjoyed biology and chemistry, and after three years at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, she earned a degree in both. Whitson’s professors supported her, although they also encouraged her to look into such other careers as medicine. “My professors were incredibly supportive even if they thought it was a pipe dream. They encouraged me.”

During her time at Iowa Wesleyan, Whitson was introduced to Dr. James Van Allen, a recognized expert in physics and astronomy and a NASA consultant from the University of Iowa. Van Allen told Whitson he didn’t think NASA would continue manned space flights. She was not discouraged even by his lack of enthusiasm.

“Luckily for me, I had a mother who said that I could be anything I wanted to be if I worked hard. Two of the hardest working people I know are my parents. They’re great role models.”

She went on to Rice University, earning her Ph.D. in biochemistry, and accepted a research job with the primary medical contractor at NASA in 1989. She continued to receive appointments in the agency, conducting research and earning two patents for equipment used in space, as well as serving as an adjunct professor at Rice University.

And every year for 10 years, she submitted an application to become an astronaut.

In 1996 she was accepted. She trained and worked in the Astronaut Office Operations Planning Branch, becoming a member of the Expedition 5 team, which began its journey on June 5, 2002. As the first scientist to live aboard the International Space Station, Whitson conducted experiments on liver-cell function, kidney function, and the growth of soybeans, among many others.

Whitson’s persistence sets a good example for all students. “There will always be bumps along the road,” she says. “It took me 10 years of applying before I became an astronaut. But you should pick something you want to do, set your goals high and work for them, but have fun.”

She encourages students to take more math and science and consider a science career if it is of interest to them. “Our future will be so enhanced by further development in science,” she said, not to mention how much math and science study can improve a student’s everyday life.

Despite her success, Whitson admits regrets. “I was always interested in math and the sciences. I went through college in three years and tested out of many liberal arts classes.

In retrospect, that’s something that’s missing in my life. If you don’t have science and math coursework, there’s something missing, too. You need to understand all the fields for a full life.”