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Stephanie Wilson is born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 27, 1966. As a child, she had a great curiosity for the unknown. She wanted to discover what the world had to offer to people and work with those who shared her same passion for exploration. “I had a great curiosity for what’s unknown and I like to solve problems so trying to understand and have a better sense of the universe..." (Knisley 3). "She began collecting stamps when she was just a child" (Space Center Huston Authors 8). -
Stephanie attended Pittsfield, Massachusetts Taconic High School and graduated in 1984. She was involved in several clubs relating to science and technology. She specifically had a calling for engineering, as a peer constantly encouraged her to pursue her interest in mechanics and technological advancements. -
After attending Harvard, Wilson gained her Bachelor's degree in Engineering Science. She studied several aspects of her major regarding technology and made notable strides during this period as she continued to pursue her education. -
After graduating from Harvard in 1988, Stephanie Wilson worked for the former Marietta Astronautics Group in Denver, Colorado. She was responsible for making loaded analyses for vehicle launches and payloads during flight takeoffs. She received this duty because she was previously a dynamics engineer for Titan IV and met the requirements.
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Wilson left Martin Marietta in 1990 to continue her education and achieve higher climates. She attended the University of Texas to broaden her education in aerospace engineering. She researched the control and design of larger and more flexible structures. She was sponsored by NASA’s Langley Research Center through a graduate fellowship. -
Wilson went to the University of Texas to further educate herself and gained a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1992. She also spent most of her time studying while also participating in activities regarding her major. Wilson started to explicitly study more about engineering for space technology. -
After finishing her graduation work, Wilson started to work for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California. She was a member of the Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem team for the Galileo spacecraft. Wilson was responsible for studying the overall mechanics, such as its attitude controller behavior, and controller designs. "Her first engineering jobs were with Martin Marietta Astronautics and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory" (Neal 3). -
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Selected as an astronaut by NASA in April of 1996, Wilson completed two years of training and was qualified for an official flight assignment. She was initially assigned technical duties, but then served as a Capsule Communicator in the Astronaut Office CAPCOM branch. However, she reported to NASA's Johnson Space Center in August of 1996.
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In 2004, Wilson was assigned to STS-121. In November, she worked on STS-120, but was then sent to higher-level duties such as joint duty in Exploration and Station branches. After continuing her work in STS-121, she served in the Astronaut Office Robotics branch and gave procedure reviews, and worked as a mentor and instructor astronaut. Wilson also worked as a representative to a Join Operation Panel for station and Shuttle issues. -
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"This was a Return to Flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space Station. During the 13-day flight, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery tested new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of the space shuttle and repaired a rail car on the station" (NASA Authors 7). "She [Wilson] operated the robotic arm...and oversaw the transfer of over 15,000 pounds of equipment and supplies to the ISS" (Space Center Houston 5).
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"This mission was also designated as flight 10A in the International Space Station assembly sequence. Space Shuttle Discovery was launched from and returned to land at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida" (NASA Authors 8).
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In addition to her many contributions to NASA programs, Wilson has served as a member of the Astronaut Selection Boards. She was involved in the years 2009, 2013, and 2017 while also working with the Artemis Team. She currently serves as a backup Crew to ISS Mission Co-workers and serves as Deputy of the Assigned Crew Branch.
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Working to higher-level ranks in her career, Wilson was assigned to work on STS-131 and became a Space Station Integration Branch Chief. She served as chief for the Space Station Integration Branch and oversaw the teamwork updates and resolved issues regarding the crew, operations, and payloads. Wilson then served as Chief for the Space Station Integration Branch and oversaw the teamwork updates and resolved issues regarding the crew, operations, and payloads.
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"This was a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Space Shuttle Discovery was launched pre-dawn from Kennedy Space Center" (NASA Authors 9). "The Discovery crew transferred over 27,000 pounds of supplies...Wilson served as spacewalk support by operating the robotic arm" (Space Center Houston Authors 7).
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Wilson completed a months-long detailed report to NASA's Glenn Research Center as an Acting Chief of Program and Project Integration within the Spaceflight Systems Directorate. She was responsible for looking over the program itself and planning the control functions for the center's spaceflight projects. She has logged more than 42 days in space after going through years of hard work. -
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NASA this year has released news of Wilson being on a space flight team that will travel to the moon. This flight plans to be held in the Artemis program and may happen in the second or third mission within the next few years. One of the 18 members of the crew, Wilson will be the only astronaut with more space experience than the rest of her crew. "NASA has announced its intent to send the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon during the Artemis program" (Neal 1).
