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Houston Matters

Staying Grounded: Astronaut Adjusts to Life Post-NASA

Nearly 50 women have flown with NASA since Sally Ride’s first mission in space in 1983. Astronaut Nicole Stott is one of them. A few weeks ago, after almost 30 years with the space agency, Stott retired to become a full-time artist and advocate for STEAM education. Stott began her career at Kennedy Space Center […]

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Nearly 50 women have flown with NASA since Sally Ride's first mission in space in 1983. Astronaut Nicole Stott is one of them.

A few weeks ago, after almost 30 years with the space agency, Stott retired to become a full-time artist and advocate for STEAM education.

Stott began her career at Kennedy Space Center and Huntington Beach, California before coming to Houston in 1998. She was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000, and flew two spaceflight missions, including a 91-day mission on the International Space Station.

She tells Houston Matters' Maggie Martin it wasn't until later in life that she knew she wanted to be an astronaut.