Nicole Aunapu Mann: First Native American Woman in Space
NASA SPACEX Nicole Aunapu Mann in her SpaceX Crew-5 flight suit
7 The day dawned bright and clear at Kennedy Space Center in Florida It was October 5 2022. After several days of delay as a hurricane battered the coast it was finally flight day NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 was ready to launch to the International Space Station ISS At a nearby hotel a group of US Navy pilots had a clear view from the rooftop They cheered for their friend and fellow pilot Nicole Mann who would command the mission At the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland the women's soccer team watched the feed from NASA
8 Left to right Josh Cassada Nicole Mann Anna Kikina and Koichi Wakata wave goodbye before launch excited for the former player and school alum And in Mann's home state of California family and friends waited anxiously for liftoff In her flight suit Mann stopped to talk with her family before climbing into the car that would take her to the launchpad The crowd clapped as she and her three fellow astronauts drove away
9 As they approached the launchpad up a long hill the Falcon 9 rocket topped by the Dragon Endurance space capsule came into view The car stopped at the launchpad and Mann stepped out She leaned backward to look up at the rocket against the sky a tradition known as the rocket recline Then she headed to the elevator that would carry her to the top of the launch tower Mann smiled as she walked down the crew access arm a long hallway leading from the launch tower to the Dragon capsule Mann was the first astronaut to board She settled in her seat and strapped in Soon her crewmates joined her and the crew was ready to go When checking communications with mission control Mann thanked the thousands of people who helped prepare for the launch and added a personal message And a special thanks on behalf of all the crew to our family and friends It is your love and support that help make dreams come true Now let's do this she said Good luck Godspeed and enjoy the ride came the return message from mission control Then the countdown began Five four three two one the crowd at Kennedy Space Center chanted The rocket's engines rumbled and fired The rocket lifted skyward streaking through Earth's atmosphere and carrying the Dragon capsule into orbit Mann had just become the first Native American woman to travel to space Her many years of hard work dedication and focus on her goals had led to this moment She was rocketing away toward the International Space Station on the adventure of a lifetime
