086 | Paths to the New Age of Spaceflight with Janet Kavandi
Dr. Janet L. Kavandi is an American scientist and NASA astronaut.
She is a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions who has logged more than 33 days in space and traveled more than 13.1 million miles in 535 Earth orbits. During her time in the Astronaut Office, Janet supported ISS payload integration, capsule communications, and robotics. She was later the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office and served as the Center Director at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland from 2016 until her retirement in 2019. Today, Janet serves as the President of Sierra Space in Louisville, Colorado, where she is responsible for the Sierra Space Human Spaceflight Center and Astronaut Training Academy. She is the recipient of a Presidential Rank Award, two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, two Exceptional Service Medals, and three NASA Space Flight Medals.
Today, you’ll hear Janet and me discuss her journey to the NASA Astronaut Corps and what the future might hold for the new commercial era of space. She explains why she thinks NASA selected her for the Astronaut Corps and describes the qualities she looked for in a candidate when she became a part of the astronaut selection panel. She highlights the value of curiosity and learning when aiming to become an astronaut. You’ll also learn why learning to follow is as important as learning to lead in NASA and how Sierra Space is making space travel accessible not only to future professional astronauts but also to industry customers and experiential customers.
“I tried to find people who loved adventure, who loved being givers and helpers, who weren’t trying to be in control but could step into leadership when called upon.”
- Janet Kavandi
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● Qualities NASA looked for from astronaut candidates when Janet applied for the Corps
● What Janet thinks made her qualified for the NASA Astronaut Corps
● How NASA’s criteria for astronaut candidates changed when Janet joined the selection panel
● Why learning to follow is as important as learning to lead in the Astronaut Corps
● What Sierra Space and other space companies look for in people who man their space vehicles
● How Sierra Space is collaborating with other companies to make spaceflight accessible to more people
● How trained professionals and scientists will soon be able to go to space for research and commercial projects
Our Favorite Quotes:
● “After you do an interview with NASA, you assume you’re not going to make it, because there are lots of immensely qualified, great human beings. When you do get the call, you get into shock.” - Janet Kavandi
● “You have all these incredibly educated people among NASA candidates, but, even with all those talents, it all comes down to whether you could spend a year in space with them or personally entrust your life to that person.” - Janet Kavandi
Connect with Janet Kavandi:
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.
I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.
In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.
Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.