The phrase “working for NASA” may bring to mind strong-jawed heroic types in spacesuits, ex-fighter pilots who opted to switch birds rather than retire, backed by rows of uniformed computer jockeys who monitor wall-sized screens for the astronauts’ safety. While the inspirations for these movie tropes surely exist in real life in some capacity, the path from Earth to the International Space Station (ISS) is much more varied.
For Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, the path began deep under a Navy vessel’s hull. She learned that NASA had created a job posting for an astronaut, and she immediately drew parallels between cleaning ships under layers of diving gear and being sent outside of the ISS for cleaning or repair missions. She applied for the job, and became one of the 12 out of 18,000 applicants hired by NASA.
In August of 1996, Stefanyshyn-Piper reported to the Johnson Space Center to begin her obligatory two years of training before suiting up for her first mission. She became a mission specialist, guiding astronauts through launch and landing routines, and also served as lead astronaut office representative for payloads. Stefanyshyn-Piper completed five spacewalks throughout her career, including those spent repairing the ISS. She spent a total of 27 days in space and over 33 hours outside the ship. She currently holds the 39th position on NASA’s all-time list of space walkers by duration.
After retiring from NASA in 2009, Stefanyshyn-Piper returned to the Navy. During her tenure with NASA, she was awarded two NASA Space Flight Medals as well as the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. When she resumed her Naval duties, she became the CTO of the Naval Sea Systems Command. Only two years later, Stefanyshyn-Piper was promoted to commander, reporting to the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Maryland. She has since retired, and has spoken out to encourage girls to pursue their dreams in STEM careers.