Meet the Alaska woman who could be NASA’s Arctic astronaut

One of NASA’s new astronauts could come from Fairbanks. A University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher has been selected by NASA as one of a 100 finalists for the job. More than 18,000 people applied. International Arctic Research Center and Institute for Northern Engineering Associate professor Jessica Cherry’s work focuses on water and climate. She says a lot of the tools she uses have applications in the space program.

“I do weather station observations, a lot of airborne research, I’m also a commercial pilot. I do imagery and air chemistry sampling” said Cherry.

Cherry previously interviewed with the NASA’s astronaut program in 2012, and describes a multi-facetted screening.

“It’s a several day process of individual interviews, group interview, language and intelligence testing, some physical testing, that sort of thing,” said Cherry.

Cherry says the space program’s new focus includes going to Mars or an asteroid, destinations that, as an Alaskan, she feels well suited for.

“I do think there are a lot similarities between remote parts of Alaska in the winter time and the difficult environment we will no doubt face on on other planets,” said Cherry.

Cherry heads to Houston, Texas to interview at the Johnson Space Center later this month. She says fifty candidates will be advanced to the next stage in the selection process.