Discover the Inspiring Motivations of the NS-31 Crew for Their Space Mission

Every individual aboard the NS-31 mission possesses unique and deeply personal motivations for participating in this groundbreaking journey into space.

In a recent feature article in ELLE, a number of the female crew members articulated their ambition to serve as role models for future generations of explorers and innovators. Perry, for instance, emphasized the importance of encouraging her daughter, Daisy, who she shares with fiancé Orlando Bloom. She aims to instill in Daisy the belief that she should “never place limits on her dreams” and demonstrate that individuals from all walks of life—including various backgrounds, ethnicities, economic statuses, and educational levels—can achieve their aspirations.

Meanwhile, King, who has openly shared her feelings of apprehension regarding the mission, expressed her desire to motivate others to embrace challenges beyond their current comfort zones. She remarked, “Once I do it, then the doors will open for so many other people who thought, ‘Okay, I was one of those reluctant people, but now I’m here and I am really, really excited to go.'” This sentiment highlights the power of exploration to inspire confidence and courage in others.

Nguyen added a poignant perspective, sharing that for her, this mission represents the opportunity to realize a “dream deferred.” She reflected on her past experiences, stating, “I worked at NASA, I studied the stars—astrophysics at Harvard and MIT—but life got in the way.” She further explained that gender-based violence significantly impacts many women pursuing careers in STEM, including herself. After enduring a sexual assault, she chose to shift her focus from academia to advocacy, drafting the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights that successfully passed in both Congress and the United Nations. After a decade of activism, she realized, “I want to honor the person that I was before I was hurt.”