Her Journey to the Stars
Dr. Norah Patten is an aeronautical engineer, author, and IIAS research astronaut who is breaking new ground in space exploration. Originally from Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland, she became captivated by space as a child after visiting NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This defining moment set her on a trajectory that would make her one of Ireland’s most prominent figures in aerospace.
Norah earned her PhD in aeronautical engineering and built an impressive career spanning research, STEM advocacy, and commercial spaceflight training. She has participated in microgravity research flights, spacesuit testing, and high-altitude training, preparing for the future of human space travel. Her work has been recognized by global space organizations, and she continues to push boundaries in the field. Norah is passionate about inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in science and engineering. Her book, Shooting for the Stars, has become a staple for aspiring astronauts and space enthusiasts.
A trailblazer for Ireland’s space industry, Norah is actively shaping the future of human spaceflight. As she continues her journey, she remains committed to innovation, education, and the dream of reaching the stars. Whether through research, training, or public engagement, Norah Patten is proving that the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.
Early Inspirations & Personal Journey
You’ve spoken about how a childhood visit to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center sparked your dream of becoming an astronaut. Can you take us back to that moment? What was it about that experience that ignited your passion for space exploration?
I first became interested in space when I visited NASA in Cleveland, Ohio at 11 years of age. My aunt and her family live in Cleveland, and I have a large family of relatives on the Patten side in Cleveland because my grandfather’s three brothers emigrated in the early 1900s and settled in Cleveland. So, when I was 11, we were on a family holiday in Cleveland and one of our cousins took us to visit NASA and that was the spark of interest that has fuelled a lifelong love of space. Then when I had the opportunity to visit Kennedy Space Centre at the age of 15, standing under the Saturn V rocket in the visitor complex, was the moment I knew with all certainty that space was the career I wanted to pursue.
Growing up in Ireland, did you face any challenges in pursuing a career in aerospace? How did you navigate those challenges, and what kept you motivated?
I think like anyone who has chosen a path less travelled or has set out to achieve something that hasn’t been done before, there are different challenges at different stages of the journey. You have to learn from every milestone, from every failure, from every success. Possibly the biggest challenge for me was that there was no roadmap – I had to be the one in the driving seat, the one seeking out the opportunities, the one progressing however possible.
STEM, Space, & Scientific Contributions
Your career spans research, engineering, and education. Can you share some of the most exciting or impactful projects you’re currently working on?
Over the past decade or so, I have been able to work on some incredibly exciting and impactful projects. In 2014, while I was working at the University of Limerick, I partnered with a commercial company called Nanoracks. Nanoracks have commercial facilities on the International Space Station and through this partnership we were able to send the first student experiment from Ireland to the International Space Station. It launched on the Orb-2 mission and spent about 10 weeks orbiting Earth before returning home to Ireland.
In 2019, a group of 13 females from IIAS came together to form the PoSSUM13 initiative to engage young girls in space science. As part of the founding team, I was able to lead this initiative in Ireland and we were able to open the opportunity to have teenagers design experiments for testing on a microgravity research flight.
Since our IIAS-02 research spaceflight was announced in 2024, we’ve been planning for an exciting and impactful education and outreach campaign to engage as many people as we possibly can in the lead up to our spaceflight. I have also recently set up a foundation, The Norah Patten Foundation, specifically to support education and outreach and to create a deep and meaningful legacy here in Ireland and beyond.
Dr.Norah Patten, age seventeen
You’ve been involved in microgravity research and participated in parabolic flight campaigns. What were those experiences like, and what key takeaways did you gain from them?
The microgravity research flights are a truly unique, immersive, challenging, team focused experience. I have immensely enjoyed doing these flights over the past number of years and having the opportunity to fly in microgravity with Shawna and Kellie. For several months leading up to the flights, we prepare the details, the roles, the responsibilities and it is a very full on, focused week of research when we are on site in Ottawa. The more flights I’ve done, the more comfortable I have felt working in this environment and these flights will be a key piece to our preparation as we prepare to fly to space.
Space travel requires a unique combination of physical endurance and psychological resilience. What kind of training have you undergone to prepare for potential future missions?
Through our research institute IIAS, I’ve had an opportunity to do several different programs since I joined IIAS in 2017. These include spacesuit evaluation, high-g flights, hypoxia training, aviation and spacecraft egress, and of course the microgravity research flights.
Women in STEM & Space Advocacy
Have you ever faced moments of self-doubt in your career, and if so, how did you push through them? What advice would you give to women who dream of entering male-dominated fields like aerospace?
I think it’s only normal to have moments of self-doubt because, most often, not everything works out exactly as planned. I found that the people I’ve surrounded myself with have been key in helping me push past the difficult points and helped me to begin the next chapter. And also, the experiences I have built upon over the years and the times I have moved outside of my comfort zone have all helped create a foundation for progressing forward. For women entering more male dominated fields, my advice would be to find good mentors and good networks who can support and guide and advise the different stages through your career.
You wrote the book Shooting for the Stars to inspire young minds. If you could give one key message to a young girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut, what would it be?
I have a two-page spread in my book dedicated to some thoughts I wanted to share with the next generation. Some of these include not taking things for granted because some opportunities may never come by again; the journey being as important as the destination; and being as kind to yourself as you would be to your best friend.
The Future of Space Exploration
You are currently based in Dublin, Ireland, working with the innovative space startup Réaltra. Can you share more about your role there and how Ireland is becoming a key player in the growing global space industry?
I am living in Dublin, Ireland and part of my work here is with a very innovative and agile space startup called Réaltra. We make spaceflight hardware for launchers and satellites, and I’ve learned an immense amount since joining the company in 2023. The global space industry has continued to grow year on year and some reports have even estimated that the sector could become a $1.8 trillion industry in the next decade. There are big opportunities and it’s been wonderful to see more and more Irish companies becoming involved.
With private space companies and global collaborations shaping the new space era, what excites you most about the future of human spaceflight?
Commercial activity has revolutionized access to space. I’ve been so excited to watch friends and people in my network flight to space on commercial launchers. I think it’s been one of the most exciting periods for human spaceflight. In terms of the future, with the space agencies working to send humans back to the moon, this next decade will be a very interesting one to witness.
If given the opportunity to embark on a mission to space, what would be the one experiment or research project you’d want to conduct?
We will be carrying out multiple experiments and research projects on our spaceflight and we will be sharing a lot more about this in the coming months.
Personal Growth & Legacy
Your journey is incredibly inspiring, and many see you as a role model. How do you define success in your career, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
The impact and response to our research spaceflight announcement has been absolutely wonderful. I’ve had so many messages from parents and teachers and children telling me how excited and proud they are to follow our journey and how it is inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and astronauts. In terms of legacy, I think flying to space will be the start of the next new chapter and I cannot wait for everything that will bring.
Lastly, if you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Dream your own dream and shoot for the stars because the sky is no longer the limit.
