Careers

Early Life

Alice grew up in Shrewsbury, UK. She specialised her studies in maths, physics, and chemistry at school. Alice took a gap year after school. She travelled and worked as an au pair in Italy. Alice then studied Metallurgy (the science and technology of metals) at the University of Leeds. She spent one year of her degree studying in Finland. Alice got a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1998. A company sponsored her PhD, so it was quite hands-on.

Occupation: Astronaut & Politician

Year born: 1921

Research Areas: Space Flight, Politics

"Space Flight, Politics"

Occupation: Engineer & Project Manager

Year born: 1968

Research Areas: Deep Space Exploration

Occupation: Mathematician & Engineer

Year born: 1921

Research Areas: Aerospace Engineering, Aerodynamics

Early Life

Arthur Walker Jr. was born in Ohio, USA and moved to New York when he was five years old. He was passionate about science from an early age, but his teacher tried to discourage him from following his passion. His parents stepped in and encouraged him to apply to University to study physics. Arthur completed a bachelor’s degree in Physics, and a master’s and PhD in Astrophysics. He served in the U.S. air force and his first assignment was in the weapons laboratory. Working on rockets sparked his interest in space-based research.

Occupation: Astronaut

Year born: 1972

Research Areas: Flight Dynamics, Aviation

Early Life

Charles was born in South Carolina, USA. His parents were teachers. He wanted to join the Navy and after school applied to the United States Naval Academy. The government rejected his application. Charles has said he was rejected because he is Black. Charles did not give up and wrote to President Johnson (in power at the time) for support. He was then accepted into the Naval Academy. Charles got a degree in Electrical Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, and trained as a fighter pilot. He flew in more than 100 combat missions.

Occupation: Astrophysicist

Year born: 1943

Research Areas: Radio-Astronomy, Pulsars

Early Life

Adriana was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She grew up in Colombia, Argentina and went to high school in the USA. Adriana loved space. She looked at the stars from the roof of her house and played games where she imagined she was exploring space (her dolls and her pet dog were her fellow astronauts!). Adriana’s parents encouraged her passion and she joined a scout troop that was sponsored by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). From there, she got a volunteering position and then a summer job at JPL.

Occupation: Geologist

Year born: 1919

Research Areas: Meteorite impacts

"People don't believe, but you do your hard work. It takes time to gradually convince them. You always have to find new, better evidence."