Stephanie Wilson
born 1966
Boston; Pittsfield; Cambridge
Stephanie Wilson was born in Boston, grew up in Pittsfield, and studied engineering at Harvard University. Her interest in space led to work on spacecraft systems and then selection as a NASA astronaut in 1996. She flew on three space shuttle missions that helped build and supply the International Space Station. Her tasks included using robotic arms and supporting complex work by a large team. Wilson's career connects classroom mathematics and engineering with international cooperation in space. It shows why a successful mission needs careful preparation, communication, and many kinds of expertise.
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Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- What problem did this person investigate? Who else helped make progress?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“Stephanie Wilson mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Grades 6–8: dig deeper
How might an engineer's problem-solving skills help an astronaut work safely with a robotic arm in space?
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: NASA ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?