10/16 “FIRST WOMEN Series” Live Q&A: NASA's First Female Launch Director
Event Date: October 16, 2024, at 4 p.m. ET (Wednesday)
Registration Deadline: September 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET (Monday)

This year we are introducing a new series, "FIRST WOMEN," Virtual Classroom Connections. Women are making history at NASA every day and now we're giving you the chance to meet them. This series highlights a few of the women who have had a crucial impact on STEM fields.

On November 16, 2022, Blackwell-Thompson led her team during the first launch of Artemis – an uncrewed flight test of SLS and the Orion spacecraft. She is now preparing for Artemis II, the first crewed Artemis mission. Named to the position in January 2016, Blackwell-Thompson is NASA's first female launch director. Her role includes leading and managing the launch operations planning and execution for the Exploration Ground Systems program and Exploration Systems Development Division, or ESD. Join us as we listen to her story and participate in a live Q&A session following her talk.

Events like this (hosted by NASA's Next Gen STEM) are vital to attracting the next generation of STEM professionals who will continue the nation's legacy of exploration and discovery. After this virtual connection, students can further their learning by participating in a related NASA hands-on activity, which their educators can facilitate and share with the NASA CONNECTS community of practice.

*** Please include the anticipated number of student and educator ATTENDEES in your application. ***