Kelsey Young: “Copy, Moon Joy”
She came to NASA with the goal of making planetary science front and center of the Artemis missions. She succeeded.
On April 3rd, a quartet of astronauts embarked on an adventurous lunar tour, sharing their findings with eager earthbound observers via NASA's Mission Control Center. At the helm of the center's newly established Science desk was Kelsey Young, whose enthusiastic "copy, Moon joy" responses quickly captivated millions. Young, a planetary geologist and science flight operations lead, expressed her passion for her work, explaining that she had become an integral part of the science team rather than just a support crew.
Her journey to this position was not without challenges. Young, who developed an interest in science during high school through salamander studies, faced difficulties in her graduate studies but persevered and found her niche in fieldwork. She emphasized the importance of staying true to one's passions, even when faced with adversity.
When asked about a favorite piece of media related to her field, Young recommended recent spaceflight stories like "Project Hail Mary" and "The Martian," advising young scientists to suspend disbelief and enjoy the narratives. Her fieldwork, focusing on lunar geology, played a pivotal role in preparing her for her current role at NASA, where she developed the new Science console at Mission Control and became the first to operate it.
Young's dedication to integrating field science into the new era of human spaceflight operations is evident, a sentiment she carries throughout her career.
Written by urgent.news from Eos's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
