Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Motivations Behind NS-31 Crew’s Space Voyage
Each member of the NS-31 crew harbors distinct motivations for participating in this space mission. These compelling aspirations underscore the personal significance of their journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Inspiring Future Generations
In a recent cover story featured in ELLE magazine, several crew members articulated their ambition to serve as role models for younger generations. For crew member Perry, this aspiration is deeply personal, aiming to demonstrate to her daughter, Daisy, whom she shares with fiancé Orlando Bloom, that “dreams should be boundless and achievable for anyone, irrespective of background, ethnicity, economic standing, or educational attainment.”
Encouraging Stepping Outside Comfort Zones
Another crew member, King, openly acknowledged her apprehension about the spaceflight. However, she conveyed to the magazine her hope to inspire others to venture beyond their comfort zones. King believes that by confronting her own fears and embarking on this extraordinary journey, she can pave the way for others who may be hesitant to pursue ambitious goals. She stated that her participation might encourage those who were initially “reluctant” to embrace new challenges and realize their own potential, fostering excitement and a sense of possibility.
Fulfilling a Deferred Dream
For Nguyen, this spaceflight represents the realization of a long-held aspiration. As she recounted to the publication, “I previously worked at NASA, and my academic background is in astrophysics from Harvard and MIT. However, life presented unforeseen obstacles.” Nguyen highlighted the issue of gender-based violence as a significant factor deterring women in STEM fields from continuing their pursuits, a challenge she herself encountered.
Overcoming Adversity and Honoring Past Aspirations
Nguyen shared her personal experience, stating, “Following a sexual assault, I redirected my focus from astronomical observation to advocating for the rights of sexual assault survivors. I drafted the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, which was successfully passed in both Congress and at the United Nations.” After a decade dedicated to advocacy, Nguyen expressed a desire to “honor the person I was before experiencing trauma,” returning to her early passion for space and astrophysics. This mission symbolizes a powerful step towards reclaiming her original dreams and inspiring resilience in the face of adversity.