Sharing Space

What if floating in space and looking down at Earth could teach us about resilience, teamwork, and our place in the universe?

1: Resilience and Role Models Shape Dreams

Resilience plays a massive role in pursuing ambitious goals, especially for astronauts like Cady Coleman. Living aboard the International Space Station (ISS), waking up 250 miles above the Earth in microgravity, taught Coleman to adapt physically and mentally to life in an extraordinary environment. Challenges such as sleeping while floating or swallowing toothpaste because spitting isn't an option demanded constant ingenuity and adaptability.

Coleman’s inspiration came from Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. A chance encounter during a lecture shifted Coleman’s perspective on what was achievable. Ride’s journey showed Coleman that her background in chemistry and love for adventure could indeed lead to becoming an astronaut. Observing a trailblazer like Ride pushed her to rethink traditional notions of who could thrive in the space sector.

This realization illustrates how role models can be catalysts for redefining aspirations. They remind us that personal ambitions are attainable through motivation, creativity, and persistence. Coleman’s transformation from a scientist with vague ambitions to a force of purpose epitomizes how seeing someone achieve what you dream of can bolster your resolve.

Examples

• Coleman’s delight and adaptability in challenges like securing floating personal belongings with Velcro.
• Sally Ride’s MIT talk inspired Coleman’s career shift toward NASA.
• Coleman’s acknowledgment of the significance of role models in overcoming self-doubt.

2: The Foundation of Teamwork

Space missions function on extensive collaboration, with every crewmember’s detailed preparation contributing to success. Astronauts undergo rigorous training that includes technical drills, emergency simulations, and endless repetitions of routine procedures to ensure tasks are executed flawlessly.

Even with advanced preparation, success hinges on teamwork. For example, Coleman’s role in deploying the Chandra X-ray Observatory exemplified the synergy required between leadership, communication, and individual contributions. Her team’s harmonious execution allowed humanity to take another leap in exploring the universe.

Beyond precision, teamwork also involves adapting to emotional hurdles. When space launches were delayed, astronauts relied on each other for support through resilience and stress management exercises. These collaborations highlight how precision in technical skill and emotional solidarity create the backbone of any complex effort.

Examples

• Preparations for the Chandra Observatory showcased the importance of leadership and collaborative troubleshooting.
• Emotional resilience training helped astronauts adjust to stress during unexpected launch delays.
• ISS operations illustrate vivid interdependent efforts for day-to-day survival and scientific mission success.

3: Navigating Motherhood and Personal Challenges

Coleman balanced her demanding NASA career with motherhood in a male-dominated field. Her experience highlighted the value of implementing family-friendly policies and building inclusive workplaces that recognize personal needs alongside professional demands.

Her personal relationships also remained a priority, as demonstrated by her long-distance partnership with her husband, Josh. They maintained a thriving relationship through clear communication and mutual support. This aspect of Coleman’s life exemplifies how healthy relationships can be sustained even with significant physical and emotional distance.

In moments of intense loss, such as the Columbia shuttle disaster, Coleman leaned on the strength of the NASA community. The personal impact of such events pointed to the deep interconnection of professional relationships and highlighted the human cost of space exploration.

Examples

• Coleman’s advocacy underscored the importance of family-inclusive policies in traditionally high-pressure environments.
• Her long-distance relationship stressed the role of communication in personal bonds amid professional commitments.
• NASA’s response to the Columbia disaster fostered community resilience and collective grief management.

4: Adapting and Advocating for Change

Coleman faced physical challenges during her spacewalk training due to equipment historically designed for larger male astronauts. She took on the challenge by adding extra padding inside her suit and developing creative workarounds to execute her tasks efficiently.

Her persistence not only enabled her success in training but also sparked a push for change within astronaut programs. She actively advocated for equipment inclusivity and systemic changes to accommodate diverse body types, setting a precedent for future astronauts.

Coleman’s story demonstrates the power of persistence and self-advocacy when challenging traditional systems. Her journey underscores that embracing change requires not just resilience but also courage to advocate for others.

Examples

• Coleman’s adjustments to an unsupportive spacesuit during simulated spacewalks.
• Her proactive discussions with instructors to address challenges in astronaut training.
• Advocacy for inclusive designs in equipment for future trainees.

5: Trust as the Core of Team Dynamics

For astronauts, trust among team members is more critical than personal compatibility. Whether capturing a drifting supply spaceship or navigating tense simulations, team cohesion directly impacts mission outcomes.

Coleman’s work with crew members like Paolo Nespoli demonstrated how shared trust, rather than friendship, allowed for swift and confident execution of tasks. Developing trust often meant grappling with biases or stereotypes, as seen when a male crewmate, initially skeptical of Coleman’s capabilities, came to deeply rely on her.

This evolution of trust underscores the importance of shared responsibility and respect. Teams thrive not simply from commonalities but from mutual recognition of skill and effort.

Examples

• Coleman and Nespoli’s cooperation during the docking operation of the Kounotori mission.
• A crewmate’s eventual trust following a training error he initially instigated.
• The cultural importance placed on building rapport through consistent performance.

6: The Interplay of Passion and Performance

Coleman brought personal hobbies into the professional setting, proving that balance is key to longevity. Her duet with rock flutist Ian Anderson from space brought personal connection to global relevance and celebrated human achievement with spirit.

She also carried small items to space symbolizing ties to loved ones. Keeping tangible reminders of Earth, like her son’s toy tiger, grounded Coleman emotionally amid the intensity of space travel.

These moments illustrate how infusing personal interests into professional life, even in the most demanding environments, can nurture a sense of identity and perspective.

Examples

• Bridging music and space during a live duet for Yuri’s Night.
• Cherishing personal connections through small tokens like her son’s mementoes.
• Finding peace in the Cupola and reflecting on the Earth from above.

7: Life Lessons from Reentry

Returning to Earth is as eye-opening as leaving it. Coleman’s reentry via the Soyuz capsule offered a visceral reminder of the human reliance on collaboration, preparation, and adaptability in ever-changing conditions.

Beyond physical reintegration into gravity, the emotional shift reminded Coleman of humanity’s collective capacity for resilience. Her “space house” experience gave her newfound appreciation for what unites people across cultures and borders.

The return to routine life carries lessons about persistence, transition, and cherishing meaningful moments — whether in extraordinary situations or everyday realities.

Examples

• The jarring descent experience in the Soyuz capsule.
• Coleman’s reflective focus on recording memories over taking photos in her final ISS days.
• The emotional blend of reuniting with family while grieving the distance from space life.

8: Amplifying Inclusion in Exploration

Space programs must include voices from all genders, races, and abilities. From ensuring diverse crew footage in media to advising on better spacesuit designs, Coleman championed representation at every turn.

Advocacy also extended beyond NASA. Her role in AstroAccess, working toward better inclusion for disabled individuals in space exploration, reflects her belief that opportunities should be accessible to everyone.

Representation reaches beyond mere symbolism. It influences how individuals see themselves in unexplored fields and inspires the next generation to expand human possibilities.

Examples

• Ensuring women appeared prominently in space media coverage.
• Promoting accessibility efforts for disabled astronauts.
• Championing diversity at all levels of astronaut training and space collaborations.

9: Seeing Earth with New Eyes

Viewing Earth from the ISS altered Coleman’s perspective of connection. From space, the borders fade and the planet seems unified, emphasizing humanity’s shared responsibilities toward each other and global sustainability.

This cosmic vantage inspired Coleman’s initiatives like contributing to LGBTQ+ youth projects, advocating for collaboration across teams, and educating others on the interconnected challenges facing humanity.

The shift in perspective echoes far beyond space. It calls us all to refocus our efforts on collective care, be it for our planet or those who inhabit it.

Examples

• Participating in the "It Gets Better" project for LGBTQ+ youth.
• Educating teams on inclusivity and collaboration through storytelling.
• Using Earth’s view to express global connectivity through her work.

Takeaways

1. Reflect on the role of trust within your teams and build partnerships based on mutual skills and respect.
2. Advocate for inclusivity and representation in your workplace or community to foster a supportive environment.
3. Balance your personal interests with your professional role to maintain well-being and connection in demanding environments.