Astronaut Mom Karen Nyberg Shares Her Perspective Changer
DEVELOPMENT
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Dr. Karen Nyberg is an engineer, astronaut, and artist who has nearly thirty years of experience in human spaceflight. She is also a mother.
Here's What You Need To Know:
- Dr. Karen Nyberg was the 50th woman in space.
- She made her first trip to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2008.
- Every night Karen spent in space, she recorded her 3-year-old son an iPad video.
- She became the first person to quilt from space, crafting a star-themed block, and invited others to sew their own. In response, NASA received over 2400 quilt squares from around the world, forming a giant quilt.
- Prior to becoming an astronaut, Karen worked as an Environmental Control Systems Engineer at the Johnson Space Center.
Rocket Woman
When Karen Nyberg was eight years old she sewed her first shirt. It was around this time that the budding seamstress and artist looked up at the night sky and decided she wanted to be an astronaut. “My entire life,” she says, “I’ve had two main passions: space, of course, and creating things.”
In 2008, her childhood aspirations turned reality, as she became the 50th woman in space. Below are just a few roles that Dr. Nyberg plays.
