JUNE 27, 1977

ASTRONAUT NICOLE AUNAPU MANN BORN—FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN FROM NASA IN SPACE

Mann, born in Petaluma, California (CA) and registered with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, earned Mechanical Engineering degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) (Bachelors, 1999) & Stanford University (Masters, 2001). As a Naval Aviator, she deployed twice aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). After 47 combat missions in Operations Iraqi Freedom & Enduring Freedom, Nicole became an F/A-18 Test Pilot/Project Officer in 2009. Chosen by NASA in 2013, Mann, on October 5, 2022, commanded NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station, spent 157 days in orbit & conducted 2 spacewalks. Honors include: Numerous service medals & commendations; Trident Scholar; Academic All-American (soccer); NASA 2015 Stephen D. Thorne Safety Award; 2017 Jerry Yeagley Award; Academic All-American Hall of Fame. Memberships: Society of Experimental Test Pilots; Tailhook; and U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Alumni; and USNA Alumni Associations.

Source:

“Nicole A. Mann (Col, U.S. Marine Corps) NASA Astronaut,” NASA.  Retrieved 3/31/2023,  Nicole A. Mann (Col, U.S. Marine Corps) NASA Astronaut | NASA

Photo:  Nora Moran/NASA, 2/14/2022. Public Domain.