GEORGE NEWS - A good maths teacher who made her fall in love with the subject and her father who told her she could be anything she wants formed part of the elements of the launchpad from which the retired Nasa astronaut, Commander Susan Kilrain, was to reach literally astronomical heights in her extraordinary life.
Kilrain, the special guest on the 2025 Living Maths Space Tour, inspired a hall full of local high and primary school learners at the Inkcubeko Science Centre in Thembalethu on Tuesday to take a different attitude towards maths and science for exciting career paths.
The tour took place from 8 September to today, from Cape Town along the Garden Route.
Kilrain is one of only three women - and the youngest person - to ever pilot a space shuttle. She worked as an aerospace engineer before joining the US Navy as a test pilot where she distinguished herself and worked for 20 years, before joining Nasa.
Calling herself 'an unlikely astronaut', she told the children that circumstances and challenges are not an excuse for giving up on your dreams. She came from a low-income family where alcoholism and divorced parents shaped her environment, although her father remained a key figure in her life. She attended 'lousy' schools and faced barriers in 'a man's world' prejudiced against women, which she had to break.
She fell in love with airplanes as a young girl because of her father's habit of taking the family to the airport where they watched the planes take off and land - because it was free.
It was during that time she aired her wish to her dad that she would one day want to fly to space. Her dad's encouragement was her first lucky break. She was lucky a second time when, in high school, she won free flying lessons in a competition. She loved it, and it spurred her on.
Commander Susan Kilrain answering the learners' questions. Photos: Alida de Beer
After school, she obtained a master's degree in aerospace engineering and went to work for an aerospace company.
After several years, following the advice of another astronaut who was an acquaintance of her boss, she joined the US Navy, after being rejected by the Air Force, and became a test pilot.
During her career, she logged more than 3 000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. "The faster, the better," she said.
Khazimla Maxaxuma, a learner of MM Mateza Primary School, created a lovely space painting for her heroine.
When she eventually applied to Nasa, she was rejected twice before being brought on board. She played various roles there and went on two space missions, spending more than 20 days in space.
She now travels the world as a motivational speaker and consultant, focused especially on encouraging young women and underprivileged teens to pursue Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers.
Kilrain is also an avid photographer, amateur astronomer and mother of four. She lives in Washington DC with her husband, Vice Admiral Colin Kilrain.
The Living Maths Tour is part of the 30th year celebration of Living Maths. Steve Sherman, chief imagination officer of Living Maths, is accompanying Kilrain on the tour.
He said having someone of her calibre and character share her story is a powerful way to show the learners what is possible when they believe in themselves and pursue big dreams.
Showing the children the Southern Cape coast as seen from space.
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