Meet The Astronauts

Cady Coleman

We’re not going to be successful if we only have people who look and think alike.

Space: Space Shuttle Missions: STS-73, STA-93; ISS Exp: 26/27

Book: Sharing Space

Cady Coleman is a former NASA astronaut and retired United States Air Force colonel with an impressive career in space exploration. She has logged over 180 days in space across three missions, including two Space Shuttle flights and a six-month expedition on the ISS. As Lead Robotics and Lead Science Officer on the ISS, Cady conducted numerous scientific experiments, including pioneering work with robotics. Since retiring from NASA in 2016, she has become a vocal advocate for inclusion in STEM fields, serves as ASU’s Global Explorer in Residence, and has recently authored her biography: “Sharing Space – an Astronaut’s Guide to Mission Wonder and Making Change”. She also is a musician, playing her flute in space.

Richard Garriott

Looking down on the earth from space, it was abundantly clear that the impact of humanity is felt all over the entire earth, in so many diverse ways.

Space: Soyuz TMA-13/TMA-12 to ISS

Book: Explore/Create

Richard Garriott, born on July 4, 1961, in Cambridge, England, is a pioneering figure in the video game industry, entrepreneur, and private astronaut. In 2008, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to the International Space Station as a private astronaut, becoming the first second-generation American in space, following his father Owen Garriott’s NASA career. He has served as President of the Explorers Club since 2021. He has also been involved in various space-related ventures and authored a memoir titled “Explore/Create: My Life in Pursuit of New Frontiers, Hidden Worlds, and the Creative Spark.”

John Herrington

We are a diverse people. There are no dreams too large, no innovation unimaginable and no frontiers beyond our reach.

Shuttle Mission STS-113

Book: Mission to Space

John Herrington, the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space, has expressed powerful views on diversity and inclusion in space exploration and science. As a member of the Chickasaw Nation and a former NASA astronaut, Herrington has been a strong advocate for inspiring diverse groups to pursue careers in STEM fields. He flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-113 mission, logging over 330 hours in space and performing three spacewalks totaling nearly 20 hours. Following his retirement from NASA and the Navy in 2005, Herrington has dedicated himself to promoting STEM education, particularly for Native American youth. He has earned numerous accolades, including induction into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and authored a children’s book titled “Mission to Space.” Herrington inspires others through motivational speaking and educational initiatives.

Joan Higginbotham

When you have people that bring diversity to the table, they come to the table and look at things through a little bit of a different lens than a group that is homogenous. So you have the ability to have the perspective of getting, maybe, eight different viewpoints. That just makes you a better community.

Shuttle Mission: STS-116

Joan Higginbotham, born on August 3, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, is a trailblazing electrical engineer and former NASA astronaut. She became the third African American woman to travel into space when she flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery for mission STS-116 in December 2006. Higginbotham began her NASA career in 1987 at the Kennedy Space Center, supporting  space shuttle launches over nine years before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996. During her 308 hours in space, she operated the International Space Station’s robotic arm. After retiring from NASA in 2007, Higginbotham transitioned to the private sector. In 2022, she launched her own aerospace consulting firm, Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra LLC. Higginbotham holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University and two Master’s degrees from Florida Institute of Technology. She continues to inspire others through public speaking and educational initiatives, drawing on her unique experiences as an astronaut and engineer.

Leland Melvin

On our space missions, without diversity we would die.  We need diverse expertise, diverse problem-solving skills, diverse backgrounds. . .to handle the many challenges of launch, working on orbit, and returning to Earth.

Space: STS-122, STS-129

Leland Melvin, born on February 15, 1964, in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a former NASA astronaut, engineer, and retired NFL player. After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Richmond and a master’s in materials science engineering from the University of Virginia, Melvin began his career at NASA Langley Research Center in 1989. Selected as an astronaut in 1998, he flew two Space Shuttle missions to the International Space Station, logging over 565 hours in space. Melvin’s unique journey includes a brief stint in the NFL with the Detroit Lions before an injury led him to pursue a career in science. Post-NASA, he served as the Associate Administrator for Education and has become a passionate advocate for STEM education. Melvin continues to inspire others through public speaking, writing, and educational initiatives, drawing on his experiences as an athlete, astronaut, and scientist to promote diversity and innovation in space exploration and beyond.

Sian Proctor

By integrating these perspectives, we enrich our vision of the future, making it more inclusive, innovative, and reflective of our global community.

Dragon Mission Inspiration 4

Book: Earthlight

Dr. Sian Proctor is a trailblazing geoscientist, commercial astronaut, artist, and educator born on March 28, 1970, in Hagåtña, Guam. She made history as the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft and the first Black commercial astronaut on SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission in September 2021. After her mission, she shared her experiences to educate and inspire, with a special focus on Earthlight.  With a B.S. in Environmental Science, an M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Science Education, Proctor has been a geology professor at South Mountain Community College since 1999. Her diverse career includes participating in analog astronaut missions, serving as a major in the Civil Air Patrol, and advocating for diversity in STEM fields. As the founder of Space2inspire, Proctor uses her unique experiences to promote a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive approach to space exploration. In 2024, she was selected as a U.S. Science Envoy for the United States Department of State, further expanding her role in science communication and space advocacy.

Garrett Reisman

The best crews bring a variety of experiences and skills and personalities.   One of the tightest-knit crews I ever knew was the STS-107 crew of Columbia and they were also the most diverse crew I ever knew.

Garrett Erin Reisman, born on February 10, 1968, in Morristown, New Jersey, is an American engineer, former NASA astronaut, and aerospace executive. Selected by NASA in 1998, Reisman flew on multiple Space Shuttle missions, including a 95-day stay aboard the International Space Station in 2008. He performed three spacewalks and served as a flight engineer during his NASA career. After leaving NASA in 2011, Reisman joined SpaceX as Director of Space Operations. In 2018, he transitioned to academia, becoming a Professor of Astronautical Engineering at the University of Southern California while maintaining a role as a Senior Advisor at SpaceX. Reisman is known for his engaging public presence, appearing on shows like “The Colbert Report” and “The Joe Rogan Experience,” and for his technical contributions to both government and commercial spaceflight programs.

Chris Sembroski

We are all here together. We can all do amazing things, if we show a little generosity and kindness towards one another.

Space: Dragon Mission Inspiration 4

Chris Sembroski, born on August 28, 1979, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, is an American aerospace engineer, Air Force veteran, and commercial astronaut. With a lifelong passion for space exploration, Sembroski earned a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and served in the U.S. Air Force, maintaining intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying to Iraq. His career has spanned roles as a Space Camp counselor, a volunteer for space advocacy group ProSpace, and positions at Lockheed Martin and Blue Origin. Sembroski gained international recognition as a crew member of Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight, which launched on September 15, 2021. As the Mission Specialist representing “Generosity,” he spent three days in orbit, with a special focus on Earth photography, documenting the dramatic views from the Dragon dome window. Known for his innovative approach to aerospace challenges and his commitment to STEM education, Sembroski continues to inspire others through his work in the space industry and as a public speaker.