Discover the Inspiring Motivations Behind the NS-31 Crew’s Journey to Space

Each individual member of the NS-31 crew possesses unique and deeply personal motivations for participating in this groundbreaking mission. Their aspirations reflect not only personal dreams but also a commitment to influencing future generations positively.

In a recent feature story for ELLE, several women from the crew articulated their hopes of igniting inspiration in young minds. For Perry, this mission holds a special significance as she emphasizes the importance of teaching her daughter, Daisy, whom she shares with fiancé Orlando Bloom, to “never place limits on her aspirations.” She aims to demonstrate that anyone, regardless of their background, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or educational achievements, can attain their dreams.

On the other hand, King has candidly shared her apprehensions about the journey. However, she expressed her desire to motivate others to break free from their comfort zones. She stated, “Once I embark on this adventure, doors will open for many individuals who previously thought, ‘I was hesitant, but now I am here, and I am truly excited to embark on this journey.'”

Furthermore, Nguyen highlighted her personal journey of pursuing a “dream deferred.” She shared her background of working at NASA and studying astrophysics at prestigious institutions like Harvard and MIT. However, life challenges intervened, particularly gender-based violence, which often hampers the progress of women in STEM fields. Nguyen explained, “After experiencing sexual assault, I exchanged my telescope for the fight for my rights as a survivor. I was instrumental in drafting the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, which was eventually passed in Congress and recognized by the United Nations. After dedicating a decade to advocacy, I realized I wanted to honor the person I was before the trauma.”