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DARE TO DREAM

“I certainly knew that becoming in 1998 as STS-91 on board Discovery. time was awesome as well. Nothing on
a naval aviator was a very important This mission was the second flight ‘I was Earth comes close to simulating the
step to take in pursuit of my dream to of the ASTRO observatory, a unique 6.5 million pounds of thrust that was
be an astronaut. Plus, I knew that the complement of three telescopes used responsible produced by the space shuttle during
vast amount of operational experience to conduct astronomical observations launch!”
I would gain as a Navy pilot would in the ultraviolet spectral regions. for orbiter While most of us can only imagine
be very valuable as well. At that point And just as long-haul airliners have such feelings or look whimsically at
in time, I didn’t necessarily pursue augmented crews to provide adequate systems one-dimensional images shot through
additional qualifications because rest for the pilots, Lawrence was a lens in orbit, there is a new dawn of
I thought they would help me get assigned to serve as an orbit pilot, as operations space travel on the horizon.
selected as an astronaut. Instead, my she explains, “We flew three telescopes NASA recently named nine US
priority was gaining the qualifications in the orbiter payload bay, which were and execution astronauts who will launch aboard
I needed to be a more capable operated around the clock. To do new American-made spacecraft and
pilot and officer in my helicopter this, we split the crew into two work of the rocket systems, in the first human
squadrons.” shifts. The mission commander and launches from the United States
Lawrence believes that her time as pilot were on the Red shift. As the manoeuvre since 2011. These astronauts, eight
a naval aviator had served her well for mission flight engineer, the mission from NASA and one from Boeing,
training as an astronaut and that there commander designated me as the timeline.’ were assigned to conduct the first
are parallels in the two fields. orbit pilot for the Blue shift. That test flights and operational missions
“My military training prepared me meant I was responsible for orbiter WENDY LAWRENCE for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and
very well for the process of training systems operations and execution of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in partnership
to become an astronaut as NASA the manoeuvre timeline while the with NASA’s Commercial Crew
takes a similar approach. During my commander and pilot slept.” Program.
astronaut candidate training flow, we When asked how flying the shuttle Lawrence also sees a growing
first studied each space shuttle system compares to a helicopter from a pilot’s future for spaceflight.
one at a time, followed by sessions perspective, Lawrence replies, “Let’s “I believe we will continue to see
in the procedural trainer. Once we just say that for this helicopter pilot, more public/private partnerships like
learned all of the major systems, we things happened much more quickly the ones that NASA already has in
progressed to the full-up simulator onboard the Shuttle, given the speed place with SpaceX, Boeing and Orbital
to practice the procedures used to at which it travelled!” ATK. Eventually, we will make the
operate the space shuttle systems.” journey to Mars, but that effort will
Comparing her experience in the Looking back require a sustained flow of money
two training realms of naval aviator Of all the incredible sights and and uninterrupted attention. When
and astronaut, Lawrence considers sensations that must be associated we do go to Mars, I think we will pair
that, “Looking back at it, I think Navy with spaceflight, Lawrence recalls two humans and robots (perhaps in the
flight training was more challenging, in particular. form of unmanned craft) together.”
mainly because it was the first time “Looking out the window and being Wendy Lawrence spent 51 days Neil Armstrong may not be
I had been in that type of learning weightless immediately come to mind! in space across four Space descending onto the lunar surface
environment. By the time I started And ‘riding the rocket’ for the first Shuttle missions. nasa for the world to witness through a
astronaut candidate training, I grainy black and white transmission,
had gone through the qualification but there are no shortage of inspiring
training programs for five different images and role models for the
types of aircraft. That experience made 10-year-olds of today. Astronaut
astronaut training a very familiar Wendy Lawrence is one of these,
environment for me.” actively inspiring and encouraging the
Lawrence also believes that the next generation through her personal
qualities that make a good pilot also appearances, speaking engagements
make a good astronaut. A methodical and interviews.
approach, situational awareness and To the astronauts and aviators of
self-discipline are among them and tomorrow, she says, “Go for it! It was
she adds, “Being able to communicate definitely hard work to become both a
and work well with your fellow naval aviator and NASA astronaut, but
crewmates,” as another important absolutely worth it as well. I have no
skill. regrets whatsoever!”
As a helicopter pilot without jet We’ve all gazed at the heavens by
experience, Lawrence wasn’t eligible night and this author had one more
to apply to become an astronaut question to ask Astronaut Lawrence.
pilot and was not categorised as a Her answer stirred admiration tinged
full-fledged shuttle pilot. However, with a hint of envy in this aviator
as she explains, “Virtually all mission when she replied, “Yes, I do look at the
specialists learned how to input night sky differently now knowing that
manoeuvres into the orbiter guidance, I had the opportunity to fly just a little
navigation and control (GNC) system closer to the stars.”
during our training flows.”
Lawrence’s first spaceflight was For more info please visit
in 1995 as part of STS-67 aboard www.AstronautWendyLawrence.com,
Endeavour. Her third mission came Follow @AstroWendyL, #WeBelieveInAstronauts
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