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During her tenure as a high school science teacher in Vancouver, Washington, Dottie found herself on the NASA website, researching a question for a student (“How do astronauts go to the bathroom in space?”). That random inquiry led her to applying to become an astronaut, and—ultimately—to space. She took part in 15-day Space Shuttle Discovery Mission (STS-131) that she undertook in April 2010, to resupply the International Space Station.
In addition to space hours, she also commanded the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations 16, an underwater habitat with an international crew of aquanauts and habitat technicians. Together they simulated spacewalks that can be applied to future space research and exploration, and sought to develop techniques for working at an asteroid. As the first Space Camp alumna to become an astronaut, Dorothy regularly speaks about promoting STEAM education around the globe.
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| © NASA |
How a teacher realized her biggest dream to become an astronaut and to go to space? What role played curiosity and luck in her success story, why we should never give up on our dreams, how our earthly concerns and joys look like from the space perspective and how close are we to space tourism - I asked retired Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger.
I had a passion for space since I was young. As a high school science teacher, I took a student’s question seriously and looked it up on Google. NASA’s website provided the answer to the student’s question AND the website advertised that teachers would be selected as part of the 2004 class of astronauts. I applied, interviewed, and was selected. Then the training and work began. Here is a TEDx video that explains my journey:
What did you take with you to space?
I took a finger painting by my 3-year-old daughter, photos of my husband and daughter, and other meaningful items for my family and the schools I attended and taught at.
I took a finger painting by my 3-year-old daughter, photos of my husband and daughter, and other meaningful items for my family and the schools I attended and taught at.
How does the life on Earth look like from the space?
Life looks removed. We don’t see the interactions of the people and other fauna and flora, but we can see what humans have built (walls, roads, buildings, airports, etc.). We can watch seasons and events.
Life looks removed. We don’t see the interactions of the people and other fauna and flora, but we can see what humans have built (walls, roads, buildings, airports, etc.). We can watch seasons and events.
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| © NASA |
How do our earthly fears, concerns and joys look like from the space perspective?
Such an interesting question because it really depends. If your fear is of other humans, then you can see how we have boarders (ancient – Great Wall of China; recent – North Korea). If, like me, you are concerned about life sustaining resources (i.e. fresh water, air, and forests/reefs) being protected and available for all, then you can see cities in deserts, where populations are reliant on dams, small lakes, etc.; you can observe the thin atmosphere and realize that is all the we have to breathe and protect us, and you can watch major forests burn, shrink, etc.
What is the feeling to see the world from the space?
It made me feel joy and awe. I felt connected and yet an observer.
It made me feel joy and awe. I felt connected and yet an observer.
What have you learned about yourself during the spacewalks?
As the crewmember inside, I knew that I wanted to do everything possible to keep my crewmates safe.
As the crewmember inside, I knew that I wanted to do everything possible to keep my crewmates safe.
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What’s the feeling to achieve your biggest dream?
It feels surreal but also like an enormous gift. I realized that reaching my dream was not of my own talent and ability, but that it came from investments from my parents, teachers, friends, and extended family. That some of the accomplishment was due to my curiosity and hard work, but some was also due to the above and to chance.
What will you tell people who easily give up on their dreams because of fear of failure? What’s your advice on how to pevent fear from determining our lives?
I would want to listen to their stories and understand what they see as the barriers to accomplishing their dreams. I have abandoned some of my dreams. For example, when I was about 14 years old, I dreamed about being an Olympic runner. However, realistically, no matter how hard I trained, I was not built to be that runner. I still love running, but I’ve abandoned that specificity of the dream. Some dreams must be deferred for reasons beyond our control (COVID is an example). I would encourage the dreamer to revise her/his dream, but not to let it go completely.
I would want to listen to their stories and understand what they see as the barriers to accomplishing their dreams. I have abandoned some of my dreams. For example, when I was about 14 years old, I dreamed about being an Olympic runner. However, realistically, no matter how hard I trained, I was not built to be that runner. I still love running, but I’ve abandoned that specificity of the dream. Some dreams must be deferred for reasons beyond our control (COVID is an example). I would encourage the dreamer to revise her/his dream, but not to let it go completely.
What’s the role of luck in your success story? And how can we bring more “luck” to our lives?
Answering that student’s question and happening across the Astronaut application for teachers was “luck.” I would encourage people to live life with curiosity and to be authentic. I wanted my student to feel valued and seen, to take her question seriously. I had no idea where that pursuit would take me.
Many people ask themselves why do we need to explore space? Why do we need to invest so much money in space explorations when we have so many problems on earth?
From weather satellites, to computing ability, to materials and medicines, space exploration and work solves numerous problems back on earth.
From weather satellites, to computing ability, to materials and medicines, space exploration and work solves numerous problems back on earth.
What will it mean to us, humans, to be able to go to Mars?
It will mean that we’ve made significant technological advances and that we can work together to venture deeper into our solar system.
It will mean that we’ve made significant technological advances and that we can work together to venture deeper into our solar system.
What’s the next stage of this exploration? Space tourism?
We are seeing the next stage of exploration start with the Artemis program. Commercial and government interties are work together to return to the moon with a robust agenda of exploration. We will also see the first all tourist mission later this year on SpaceX.
We are seeing the next stage of exploration start with the Artemis program. Commercial and government interties are work together to return to the moon with a robust agenda of exploration. We will also see the first all tourist mission later this year on SpaceX.
If you are able to send a message to your younger self, what will be that message? And if your future self can send you a message now, what do you think she will tell you?
Remain curious and feel confident in your dreams.
Remain curious and feel confident in your dreams.
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