Cady Coleman '91 and Astronauts for America

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Cady Coleman ’91, a retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force colonel. Coleman flew twice on the space shuttle and spent 159 days aboard the International Space Station, where she served as Lead Robotics and Lead Science Officer.

She is appearing on behalf of Astronauts for America, a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to strengthen public understanding of constitutional principles and promote civic responsibility and engagement.

Coleman will use images and stories from space—including the extraordinary experience of looking back at Earth from orbit—to open a broader conversation about interdependence, responsibility, citizenship, and what it means to share a common political community.

Her presentation will include:

• images and stories from life aboard the International Space Station;
• reflections on seeing Earth from space and the perspective that experience provides;
• discussion of constitutional principles and civic responsibility;
• lessons about teamwork, mission, trust, and working across differences;
• and audience Q&A with students and community members.

Coleman’s participation also gives the event a particularly strong UMass connection: she graduated from UMass Amherst in 1991 before earning a doctorate in polymer science and engineering and beginning her career as an Air Force scientist and NASA astronaut.

She is also the author of Sharing Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Mission, Wonder, and Making Change.