Success Stories in STEM: SPACE

Who can be successful in STEM careers? Our new Success Stories in STEM feature introduces students to inspiring STEM role models what led them to their professions, obstacles they overcame, and more! Download English and Spanish profile cards at two reading levels to share the stories of young women in Space careers.
Maddy has been asking questions as long as she can remember. As a kid she wanted to know how things worked and why events were happening.
Achievement: Environmental test technician at SpaceX

Madalynne LaLanne

Maddy has been asking questions as long as she can remember. As a kid, she wanted to know how things worked and why events were happening. She later enjoyed doing experiments and pushing herself to understand physics.
Achievement: South Korea's first astronaut to fly into space

Dr. So-yeon Yi

What’s the key to becoming a successful astronaut? Dr. Yi says it’s simple: be true to yourself. Dr. Yi is South Korea’s first astronaut to fly into space. But her journey to be selected took perseverance.
Acheivement: Developmental engineer United States Air Force

Makiah Eustice

Makiah shoots for the stars! She is an aerospace engineer, a member of the US Air Force, and a musician. She wants to build on her experiences to become a leader in aviation, space, and defense.
Achievement: International advocate for girls in STEM

Taylor Richardson

Science makes sense to Taylor. It lets you test ideas—right or wrong—to see if they work. But as a nine-year-old at Space Camp and in robotics classes, “Astronaut Starbright” noticed she was often the only girl or the only Black person in her group.
Achievement: Researcher of space medicine

Lauren Church

When Lauren was a preschooler, she told people she was going to be a doctor and an astronaut at the same time. As a student applying for medical school, she realized that her dream could come true!
How does a 19-year-old get to help design an asteroid-ramming spacecraft?
Achievement: One of the top young STEM innovators of the world.

Elizabeth Gabler

How does a 19-year-old get to help design an asteroid-ramming spacecraft? Elizabeth says it all started with a peek at Mars through a small telescope when she was four years old.