Biography:Abigail Harrison

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Abigail Harrison
Official Astronaut Abby Headshot.jpg
Abigail Harrison (photo by Nicole Harrison)
Born (1997-06-13) June 13, 1997 (age 26)[1]
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationWellesley College (BA)
OccupationScience communication
EmployerThe Mars Generation
Known forAstronaut Abby
Websitewww.astronautabby.com

Abigail Harrison (born June 13, 1997), also known as Astronaut Abby, is an American internet personality and science communicator, particularly in the area of the United States space program. Harrison is the founder and current leader of The Mars Generation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She is not an astronaut.

Early life and education

Harrison was born in 1997[2] in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Harrison has sought to become the first person on Mars since an early age. Harrison attended Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools for K-12 education.[3][4] Harrison graduated in 2019 from Wellesley College with a Bachelors of Arts.[5] She pursued astrobiology (self-made major) and Russian Area Studies degrees.[3]

Career

The Mars Generation

In 2015, Harrison founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit called The Mars Generation[6] and currently serves as the President of the Executive Board.[7] The Mars Generation is an American non-governmental nonprofit organization involved in public outreach and advocating for human space exploration and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

The Mars Generation offers 3 main programs.[8][9] The Future of Space Outreach program encourages the support of space exploration and STEM education.[10][11][12] The Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program (SSA) is a dual program in mentorship and leadership designed to provide school and career guidance to students ages 13–24.[2]

The final program provides full paid scholarships for students demonstrating financial need to attend U.S. Space Camp.[13][14] In order to apply for consideration students need to be age 15–17, demonstrate interest in space exploration and an aptitude in STEM and complete the application, including obtaining a recommendation from a teacher and/or mentor.[15][16]

Author

In January 2021, Penguin Random House published a book by Harrison titled "Dream Big! How To Reach For Your Stars".[17] Harrison and Random House have stated that any proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to The Mars Generation, Harrison's nonprofit organization.[18]

Public engagement

Harrison's online presence as Astronaut Abby was spurred from an 8th grade National History Day project titled 'Debate and Diplomacy: The History of the ISS".[19] Harrison set up a Twitter account under the name of AstronautAbby to connect with NASA employees to get a quote for her project.[3][20] On May 28, 2013, Harrison attended the Soyuz TMA-09M launch of her mentor, Astronaut Luca Parmitano, to the International Space Station, becoming Parmitano's Earth Liaison.[21][22] As his Earth Liaison, she shared his 6-month experience of living in space with her social media community.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Template:Cite Instagram
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Space.com. https://www.space.com/30544-astronaut-abby-launches-mars-generation.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brooke Metz (2017-03-17). "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/03/17/meet-abby-harrison-the-college-sophomore-headed-for-mars/37429107/. 
  4. ↑ Alan Boyle i (May 8, 2013). "15-year-old Astronaut Abby fuels her outreach mission with social media". NBC News. http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/08/18126802-15-year-old-astronaut-abby-fuels-her-outreach-mission-with-social-media. 
  5. ↑ Bob Brown (August 27, 2015). "Mars astronaut hopeful stationed on planet Wellesley for now". The Swellesley Report. http://theswellesleyreport.com/2015/08/astronautabby-mars-astronaut-hopeful-stationed-at-planet-wellesley-until-2019. 
  6. ↑ Shannon Serpette (2017-03-30). "Astronaut Abby is an Out-Of-This-World Role Model for Kids". http://www.more4kids.info/9130/astronaut-abby-role-model-for-kids/. 
  7. ↑ "Abigail Harrison". The Mars Generation. http://www.themarsgeneration.org/abigail-harrison/. 
  8. ↑ "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars". Space.com. http://www.space.com/30544-astronaut-abby-launches-mars-generation.html. 
  9. ↑ "2017 Eureka! Innovation award winner: The Mars Generation". https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/06/20/2017-eureka-innovation-award-winner-the-mars.html. 
  10. ↑ "Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars" (in en-US). https://www.yahoo.com/news/launching-mars-generation-teen-mission-people-mars-144638601.html. 
  11. ↑ "2017 Eureka! Innovation award winner: The Mars Generation". https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/06/20/2017-eureka-innovation-award-winner-the-mars.html. 
  12. ↑ "Mars and the Public Imagination" (in en). PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2497161,00.asp. 
  13. ↑ "Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars". 2017-03-17. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/03/17/meet-abby-harrison-the-college-sophomore-headed-for-mars/. 
  14. ↑ "Mars and the Public Imagination" (in en). PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2497161,00.aspv. 
  15. ↑ "The Mars Generation – GuideStar Profile" (in en). https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-2505480. 
  16. ↑ "Kids who KARE: Astronaut Abby" (in en-US). KARE. http://www.kare11.com/mobile/article/life/family/kids-who-kare/kids-who-kare-astronaut-abby/89-23105189. 
  17. ↑ "Dream Big!". Penguin Random House. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622542/dream-big-by-abigail-harrison/?ref=PRH729FBB47F8&aid=26792&linkid=PRH729FBB47F8. 
  18. ↑ "Abigail Harrison". Penguin Random House. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2203283/abigail-harrison/. 
  19. ↑ Erin Winick (2017-01-17). "On Her way to Mars". Code Like A Girl. https://code.likeagirl.io/on-her-way-to-mars-4c87705b1031. 
  20. ↑ MORGAN MERCER (May 20, 2013). "'Astronaut Abby' is crowdfunding her way to outer space". Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/astronaut-abby-is-crowdfunding-her-way-to-outer-space/208184441/. 
  21. ↑ Elizabeth Howell (2013-09-23). "This Teenager Hosts Earth-To-Space Q&As With An Orbiting Astronaut". Universe Today. https://www.universetoday.com/104973/this-teenager-hosts-earth-to-space-qas-with-an-orbiting-astronaut/. 
  22. ↑ AstronautAbby (2013-06-14), Soyuz TMA-09 Launch, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvNxroUXRw4&t=118s, retrieved 2017-08-10 
  23. ↑ Elizabeth Howell (2013-04-30). "Why An Astronaut Asked 15 Year Old Abby to Help Get The Word Out". Universe Today. http://www.universetoday.com/101824/why-an-astronaut-asked-15-year-old-abby-to-help-get-the-word-out/#more-101824. 

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