Nicole Harrison. @AstronautAbby talks about her pragmatic, supportive mom

Our Mothers Ourselves

Every month is women's history month at Our Mothers Ourselves. Still, we wanted to mark the occasion by talking to a young woman who has plans to make a big mark on history.
This week, Katie speaks with Abby Harrison, also known as Astronaut Abby. Abby has wanted to be an astronaut since she was a little girl, and the 23-year-old Harvard research assistant wants to be the first person to walk on Mars. Abby and her mom, Nicole Harrison, have launched the nonprofit The Mars Generation to encourage young women to become interested in the STEM fields. Only one in ten astronauts has been a woman, and as Abby sees it, that statistic needs to change. Abby has her sights set much higher and believes she can inspire the next generation of astronauts, with the potential to reach Mars within 20 years.
NASA recently promised to put a woman and the next man on the moon by 2024.
Abby tells Katie how her mom demonstrated strength and drive throughout her life, growing up with a single mom herself, then becoming one to Abby and her sister. Now, Nicole Harrison runs a successful social media marketing agency and is a space exploration advocate.
Abby also talks about her recently published book, Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars which offers advice on planning and achieving your dreams.
Artwork by Paula Mangin (@PaulaBallah)
Music composed and performed by Andrea Perry
Associate Producer: Sophie McNulty
Producer: Alice Hudson
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Our Mothers Ourselves is an interview podcast that celebrates extraordinary mothers from all walks of life. Please share the one word that best describes your mother on the Mother Word Cloud.