Ever dreamed of going to space? Analog astronaut and geoscientist Dr. Sian Proctor shares how she lives out her childhood dream of space exploration here on earth. We talked to Sian just a week after Sensoria, a first of its kind, all-women’s Mars simulation at the HI-SEAS habitat on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

In this episode, we learn how proudly pursuing your passions (in the outdoors and otherwise) helps open up opportunity. Sian followed her curiosity scuba diving, getting her pilot’s license, traveling around the world, and studying science. While not the end goal, all helped her in applying to be an astronaut with NASA. And though she didn’t get the final call, she’s kept herself open to analog space exploration on Earth. We hear how preparing for life in space encourages us to be better environmental stewards and fellow humans on our home planet.

Featured in this episode: Dr. Sian Proctor

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Victorinox Swiss Army, and Alpenventures Unguided.

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Sian became an analog astronaut
• Why going on a backpacking trip is a mini-analog space expedition!
• What Sian hopes to accomplish before age 50
• Sensoria, an all-women’s Mars simulation which Sian completed at the end of January
• Why Sian believes diversity must be considered when training and sending people to space
• How as an African American scientist, Sian hopes to bring in more women of color to to space exploration
• The importance of proudly pursuing your passions throughout your life
• Why investing in space is an investment in planet Earth

Resources

• Dr. Sian Proctor: Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
• Flight Ready Systems: Website
• Analog Astronaut: Website
• Sensoria
• Project PoSSUM
• She Explores Landing Page
• Ravel Media

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Victorinox Swiss Army Learn more at Victorinox.com and use code EXPLORE15 to save 15% now through April 6th,, 2020  Some exclusions apply.
• Alpenventures Unguided: Learn more at alpenventuresunguided.com. Use code EXPLORE at checkout for 10% off a summer alp adventure.

Music in this episode is by Meydan, Josh Woodward, Swelling, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons attribution license.

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.