The PoSSUM 13: Honoring 'The Mercury 13', Female PoSSUM Science-Astronaut Candidate Ambassadors Create STEM Opportunity and Representation for Young Students

摘要

The Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere (PoSSUM) program is a 501(C)(3) Astronautics Research and Education Program studying Earth's upper atmosphere and its role in climate change. Representing citizen-scientists from 41 different countries, PoSSUM conducts research in aeronomy and bioastronautics - fields to be enabled by the introduction of commercial space vehicles - in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian Air Force, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and various research and education institutions. In March 2019, PoSSUM launched a new initiative entitled PoSSUM 13 to honor the legacy of the Mercury 13. The PoSSUM 13 is a talented group of thirteen female Scientist-Astronaut Candidates. whose role is to serve as global ambassadors to increase opportunity and representation for students who have a passion for space science and exploration, particularly young women. In its formational year, the PoSSUM 13 launched its first initiative, the International Microgravity Flight Challenge, where student female-led groups aged 13-17 competed for a payload experiment aboard the annual PoSSUM microgravity campaign hosted at the National Research Council in Ottawa. Canada. Three experiments were selected through an iterative competitive process. The female-led student team finalists received mentoring from scientists and PoSSUM 13 ambassadors regarding microgravity scicncc, parabolic flights, payload fabrication, and flight readiness requirements. This presentation will outline the competition design process from conception to selection to implementation, ending with a discussion on lessons learned, next steps, and strategies to share how citizen scientists can reach marginalized and underrepresented communities of students through science and education, making pathways to careers in space and space exploration more accessible.