- 3 weeks ago
The former NASA scientist and tech entrepreneur is joining Blue Origin’s first all-female space crew, bringing her Bahamian roots, STEM advocacy, and full glam along for the ride. In this interview, she reveals how she got there.
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00:00It is an and, it is not an or.
00:02We are multi-hyphenate, right?
00:04Black women, we do not fit in boxes.
00:05You can be beautiful, you can be sexy, you can be smart, you can be successful.
00:11And that is what I'm excited to show because far too many people think that these fields
00:17are not for them at an early age because they perceive them as male-dominated.
00:21I'm like, you're going to see me in a full beat.
00:23I'm going to be in a pink suit.
00:25I'm going to have cowboy hat.
00:26I'm going to have boots.
00:27I'm going to have fringe.
00:27And this face is going to be beat.
00:28And that is what we're bringing.
00:32Hey, Essence family.
00:34It's news and politics editor, Melissa Noel.
00:36And today I am so thrilled to be joined by Aisha Bowe, an aerospace engineer, former NASA
00:42scientist and CEO of STEM Board.
00:46She's a trailblazer set to make history as part of Blue Origin's historic all-female crew
00:52on April 14th.
00:54And she'll also be the first person of Bahamian heritage to fly into space.
00:59Her journey is a powerful reminder of what's possible when we push beyond boundaries and
01:05follow our dreams.
01:06Aisha, thanks so much for being here with me today.
01:09I am so excited to dive into your incredible journey.
01:13Oh, thank you for having me, Melissa.
01:16Oh, listen, we got to get right into the story.
01:18So many things to talk about, but really just starting with your own journey, you know,
01:23from community college to NASA, how incredible that that was for you.
01:31What inspired that journey for you to even get so excited about STEM and space?
01:36I mean, I feel like high school me is just like screaming right now.
01:40And a lot of that was because I had to learn how to dream.
01:45When I was younger, I just accepted what other people told me as truth.
01:50But if they told me that I wasn't good at something, I subconsciously just thought I wasn't
01:54good at it.
01:55Do you believe that?
01:56Exactly.
01:57And so you really have to watch how you speak to yourself and you have to watch how you allow
02:01other people to speak to you.
02:03Because once I decided to say, you know what, I'm going to commit to a reality, a world of
02:08my own making, and it doesn't matter that I struggled in high school.
02:12I'm going to focus on doing good in college.
02:15I made a list and had three things.
02:17I want to graduate from a university.
02:19I want to do something that I would forever be proud of.
02:22And so that would be rocket science.
02:24And lastly, because I needed a job, you can't do those two things and not get a job, I wanted
02:29to work for NASA.
02:31And so I went from being a 2.3 high school student to earning two degrees in aerospace
02:36from the University of Michigan to working for NASA for six years and committing my life
02:41to this idea of the dream.
02:44How inspiring.
02:45I just had to take a pause for that moment, right?
02:48So incredible and so inspiring.
02:50And then so you taking that dream for yourself, right?
02:54Writing those things down and saying, I can do this.
02:57So that was one part of the journey.
02:59But then also being a Bahamian American and really having your family and your Caribbean
03:04roots inspire you, especially knowing that this was a dream of your dad's.
03:08Yeah, my dad came to the U.S. to pursue a career in engineering and in science.
03:15And, you know, he had an opportunity to come close to working for NASA.
03:20And it was a dream that I'm not only happy to carry, but to be able to take something
03:26that I love and to expose it to the world and say space looks like us too, right?
03:32Space is for all, not for some.
03:34Having had 90% of the world's astronauts previously be men and less than 10 are African-American
03:42women in the history of space.
03:44We have to change that.
03:47And this is what this mission is going to help to do.
03:51And I get to partner with who I get to partner with, which includes HBCUs.
03:55There will be students on that launch day from historically black institutions who are going
04:02to see their dreams in space too.
04:03And I love that.
04:06So talk a little bit about that unique partnership you have with Winsome Salem University and just,
04:11you know, HBCUs produce, you know, so many of the engineers, the doctors, the lawyers that
04:18we see.
04:19How important was it for you to partner with a historically black college to really bring
04:24forth initiatives like that?
04:26And tell us a little bit more about it.
04:27It was incredibly important to me because when I was working at NASA, I had the opportunity
04:32to see who was the best of the best and research and institutions that we worked with.
04:38And for a long time, I would see these schools whom we worked with.
04:43And I wanted to find a way after I left NASA to engage them because they do amazing work.
04:49The Astro Botany Lab at Winston-Salem is top notch.
04:54And so I wanted to reach back because we lift as we climb, right?
04:58And I wanted to say, I'm going to space.
05:01And this is a first.
05:02I want to bring you on this journey with me so that we can be covered in all areas.
05:07I'm an African-American woman who's a rocket scientist.
05:10I want to do research with an HBCU.
05:13And then I want to turn around and I want to inspire other people to say, they did it.
05:18So can I.
05:19So can I.
05:20Yeah.
05:20And I know that that is going to mean or that means so much to so many, right?
05:25As you mentioned, like seeing someone who looks like you, understanding that it's possible,
05:31it creates not only such a goal, but also knowing like, hey, if she could do it, like
05:38I got this as well.
05:39Yes.
05:39And we inspire all people.
05:41You know, people stop me and they're like, oh, this must be so inspiring for, you know,
05:45black boys and girls.
05:46And I'm like, full stop.
05:48Black people inspire all people.
05:49This is inspiring for everyone.
05:52Okay.
05:52I'm getting notes from Kenya.
05:53I'm getting notes from India.
05:55I'm getting notes from the Caribbean.
05:56I'm getting notes from Kentucky.
05:58People are inspired.
06:00And that is what we are here to do.
06:02That is what the journey is all about.
06:04So let's talk about this all female crew.
06:07We are heading into space on April 14th, just a couple of days away.
06:12The countdown is on.
06:13Katy Perry is on this fly.
06:15Gayle King is going to space with you.
06:18So many incredible women.
06:20What was it like to get that call?
06:21How did you feel and how were you preparing this space?
06:26Like, I'm so like, how do you prepare to go to space with all these incredible women?
06:31So like getting the call was just like realizing that I was like screaming and hopping up and
06:35down, just like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, my gosh.
06:38Gayle King knows my name.
06:40Gayle King knows I'm alive.
06:41Like, wait, what?
06:42What?
06:43It was so exciting.
06:44And then I started to really think about my career and my training.
06:49I'm going to space with a company that did not exist when I worked at NASA.
06:54And there's been so much innovation in industry.
06:57And so I said, Aisha, I want to be able to document this.
07:00I want to be able to share the story.
07:02And I want to take the community along.
07:04It is not a me.
07:05It is a we.
07:06We are going to space.
07:07Okay.
07:08I don't know if you saw Kyla on the red carpet, but we go into space, baby.
07:10And in doing that, I have recorded videos of my training.
07:15I went to the Federal Aviation Regulations for Commercial Space Flight, and I put together
07:20a plan that includes me flying in a fighter jet, that includes me in the only human-rated
07:26centrifuge in North America.
07:28They've trained over 500 astronauts.
07:30You can see me giggling and going in circles, and it's great.
07:33And so we have been dropping these videos, which they're on YouTube.
07:37Check the teasers on my IG, so that people can come to space with me and understand what
07:42it's like to prepare for this historic mission.
07:45Oh, and I love that you're taking us along for the ride.
07:48I think that's certainly part of the inspiration and also the excitement, just getting to see
07:51what is this like?
07:52How does it feel?
07:54Like, what are you going to be experiencing?
07:56That is so, so cool.
07:58And I thank you for just bringing us along for the journey, right?
08:02Yes, and what are we wearing, right?
08:04The hair is laid.
08:05The suits are, you know, I want people to come along for the entire experience, right?
08:10Space, but fashion.
08:12And so that was going to be my next question, right?
08:14We're diving right into the fashion, the hair, the makeup, the edge control, all the
08:19things.
08:20How did you or how have you been preparing to ensure that all those things stay intact?
08:25And you also don't, you know, the makeup doesn't run once the tears and excitement and
08:29the joy, you know, it's going to be so palpable.
08:31How are you preparing for that?
08:32That must be incredibly interesting.
08:36Well, we did a dry run in Dubai where I did a number of thrilling things.
08:40And so from the high altitude skydive situation to make sure that the lashes and the face stayed
08:46on to the zip line, we really tested everything first.
08:51And so I have to say one size, if you can hear me, right, keeps this face on.
08:57We're really rolling out some interesting and exciting things up along the way.
09:03Like, I have to tease it because you're going to see it and be like, yes, from the outfits
09:06to everything.
09:08Like, did you see the cover of Elle?
09:10Oh, of course we saw it.
09:12Of course we saw it.
09:12And I was like, okay, it's sleek.
09:14It's simple.
09:15It's classic.
09:16It's gorgeous.
09:18Yeah.
09:18Okay.
09:19So I think what I'm hearing here is we have to watch out because we're going to see some
09:24great surprises on launch day.
09:26That's what I'm hearing.
09:28And the fashion moments will be had.
09:30They will be had.
09:31Okay.
09:32All right.
09:32We're ready.
09:33We'll be watching.
09:35And I love that that is part of it as well, right?
09:39Yes, you're a rocket scientist.
09:41You're doing all these great things in science, but you're also like literally a fashion and
09:46media maven, and you can do all those things at the same time.
09:49Because it is an and, it is not an or.
09:52We are multi-hyphenate, right?
09:53Black women, we do not fit in boxes.
09:55You can be beautiful.
09:56You can be sexy.
09:57You can be smart.
09:58You can be successful.
10:00And that is what I'm excited to show because far too many people think that these fields
10:07are not for them at an early age because they perceive them as male-dominated.
10:11I'm like, you're going to see me in a full beat.
10:13I'm going to be in a pink suit.
10:14I'm going to have cowboy hat.
10:15I'm going to have boots.
10:16I'm going to have fringe.
10:17And this face is going to be beat.
10:19And that is what we're bringing.
10:20All the energy.
10:21And we love it.
10:23We love it.
10:24Exactly.
10:25An and, not an or.
10:27Exactly.
10:27And I love just that sentiment there, right?
10:30And, not an or.
10:31Like you can do all the things and still look so good doing it.
10:34I'm so excited about seeing all the looks.
10:37We'll be here watching.
10:38You know, so we talk a little bit about how you're preparing, both from, you know, training
10:45to making sure the hair and everything stays intact.
10:48What are some of the, you're going to be bringing some special, significant items with you into
10:53space.
10:53Let's talk a little bit about them and the significance they hold for you, who you are,
10:58and also for others.
11:01Yeah.
11:01Well, one of the things that I've spent the last couple of years gathering are postcards.
11:07And what I wanted to do was have students around the world write their dreams.
11:11And I'm going to carry them to space.
11:14And they're going to be returned to them because I wanted to bring space home.
11:18If your dream has gone to the stars, why can't you take it there?
11:22And so I'm traveling with these postcards from Kenya, from India, from Africa, just all
11:27over the place.
11:28I've gathered them.
11:29I also have a special symbol of the past, present, and future of space in the American
11:35flag that was taken by Pete Conrad to the moon.
11:38It's his personal flag on loan from Nancy Conrad, his wife, and the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
11:44And I'm honored to have that powerful tie with what we're doing and what we have done and
11:49where we are going to go.
11:50And lastly, I'm carrying some special items from the Bahamas with me.
11:54And I'm really excited to have the opportunity to share this journey as I recently lost my
12:00father.
12:01And my grandfather will be making the trip to watch the launch.
12:04At 92 years old, they didn't even have airplanes on his island when he grew up.
12:10And now he's going to see me go to space.
12:12Yeah, how incredible and what a moment that's going to be for you, for your family, and just
12:18for everybody tuned in.
12:19I know that we'll have our tissues ready for sure for that moment.
12:23Thank you for sharing just some of those items.
12:25Because I think, as you said, it's so important to not only bring certain things with you for
12:30symbolic reasons, but then to show others, like, hey, like you said, if your dream can
12:35go to space, why can't you?
12:37If you got to reach for it, you can do it.
12:39How do you hope that this space flight mission and this groundbreaking moment you'll have
12:46will help inspire the next generation of young people in STEM, right?
12:52We are, we're seeing such a moment.
12:54You mentioned that, you know, Blue Origin wasn't even around when you were at NASA.
12:59And now you're actually getting to travel the space with them.
13:01What does that mean to you?
13:02And how do you hope to inspire that next generation?
13:06Melissa, my goal is to be a bedtime story.
13:09And when people tell me, I want the kids to say, wait, did that really happen?
13:13It seems a little outrageous.
13:14Is it true?
13:16Did she really manage to become a rocket scientist after almost failing?
13:19Did she really go and work for NASA and then found two successful companies?
13:25Did she really educate tens of thousands of students around the world with her
13:29kits because she could, because she wanted to, and they told her that she could not?
13:34And did she really go to space?
13:36I think the story is what lasts.
13:38And I hope that this story of six women coming together from different walks of life,
13:43from different ages, and saying, hey, we're going to do something that we're excited by,
13:48but maybe scares us a little bit, is a story that resonates.
13:51And it's a story that is told far after we've left this place.
13:54So, so, so incredibly and wonderfully said.
13:59I have two more questions here, which have to do with, so you talked about how you hope
14:03to inspire, for sure.
14:05And I love what you said there.
14:07When we think about also for young people who are from countries that may not even have
14:13space programs, what kind of tangible results do you hope for?
14:18Are there things that may be coming on board where, you know, yes, you're working with HBCUs,
14:24but are there any plans to work with students in the Caribbean or other places in America
14:29to really take this mission forward?
14:32Because I know this, it's not stopping here.
14:34I know we may just be getting to know a part of your journey, but I know like there's so much to come.
14:39Yeah, earlier this year, I had the distinct honor of supporting the Bahamas in landing
14:44the first U.S. rocket to ever land in international territory.
14:50It's amazing.
14:51If you haven't seen it, go watch it.
14:53We landed a Falcon 9 rocket, and it was the first.
14:57We're bringing the multi-billion dollar space industry to the Caribbean.
15:01And for me to say that the Bahamas, a country that has entered space without a formal space
15:06program, is now sending me to space, I think it's the dawn of a new age of space and exploration
15:14for a lot of places.
15:16And so you no longer need to come from a country that has a space program to be in space.
15:21And you also don't have to wait for someone else to create a role for you.
15:26I'm working in a company that I made up.
15:28I'm doing a job that I made up with a logo that I made up, and I get to work in space.
15:32And I think that's the takeaway, is for anybody out there, do not wait.
15:38Dream it, plan it, and go do it.
15:41Ooh, dream it, plan it, and go do it.
15:43I think that brings us really nicely into the last question that I have, which is, if you
15:48could go back in time and tell your younger self anything in order to just kind of keep
15:55pushing and keep going, because you would get to this moment, what would it be?
15:59I would tell her to hold on and have faith.
16:04It gets so much better.
16:06When I was younger, all the things that I thought were challenges, all the things I thought would
16:12crush me, really were designed to make me.
16:15Now they're just fun stories I get to tell to you and on podcasts, right?
16:19About how I almost failed.
16:21Heck, I start a lot of my keynotes with my high school transcript.
16:24My grades are trash.
16:25They're terrible.
16:26But I'm pointing, I'm looking, I'm laughing.
16:28And those moments when I was in them felt terminal.
16:33They felt fatal, but they weren't.
16:36If I had not failed, I would not have succeeded.
16:39And so my message is to hold on.
16:41Life gets so much better if you dare to dream and if you dare to believe.
16:45Oh, if you dare to dream and if you dare to believe.
16:48So April 14th, we get to watch you make history and go into space.
16:53We'll be watching.
16:54We'll be cheering you on.
16:55And of course, we will be looking for the fashion as well.
17:01Thank you so much.
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