Norah Patten is about to boldly go where no one from Ireland has gone before

Irish Daily Mirror

a day ago

Trailblazer Norah Patten is about to boldly go where no one from Ireland has gone before - and become the first Irish person in space.
The aeronautical engineer from Ballina, Co Mayo, will be part of a three-woman crew on Virgin Galactic's spacecraft, due to launch next year.
She told the Irish Mirror: "Sometimes impossible dreams come true, if you put in the work."
Patriotic Patten is bringing something special from home with her on the landmark journey - an Irish memento to mark the ground-breaking moment in our history.
"Our Irish heritage, arts, music, culture is something I am very focused on including in the flight," she said.
"I won't announce what I'll be bringing until closer to the flight. But as a national first, the Irish piece represents an enormous opportunity. I don't know exactly how much room or how much stuff I'll be able to bring, but we're definitely looking at music, art, the cultural side."
The astronaut was talking after partnering with Aer Lingus for the next two years as she flies between home in Ireland and America ahead of the mission. Dr Patten said her interest in going to space was sparked after a school visit to a NASA space research centre in Cleveland, Ohio, at age 11.
"I went to St Oliver Plunkett's National School in Ballina and then to St Mary's secondary, an all-girls school, and I had Miss Ryan and then Miss Leonard in science, who were brilliant.
"I often say this was an impossible dream. I had the chance to visit NASA when I was in primary school and that was just a spark of interest that started as I grew up in Mayo in the '80s and '90s.
"Just having that opportunity to visit NASA, to see the wind tunnels, to get a little bit of an insight into space exploration, human space flight. I thought it was fascinating.
"That journey from age 11, all the way through and while it was an impossible dream, I think for me, I just loved space. It's been a very long journey to get to the point of announcing my space flight.
"It hasn't happened overnight, it's been most of my life progressing to get to this point."
Two practical lessons she has learned are: don't forget your space nappy, and go easy on the mayo.
Her time in what she calls the "Vomit Comet" - a specialised aircraft used to simulate zero-gravity conditions - means she has figured out what to eat, and what not to, to avoid severe motion sickness.
"I have it down to a fine art now, I'd eat a plain chicken wrap maybe two and a half hours before I fly and I'm perfect, I haven't gotten sick.
"If you don't eat, you're more likely to get sick. But not too much mayonnaise - I made that mistake once and it will not be made again.
"There's all these calculations - even down to the adult nappy, a maximum absorbency garment called a MAG.
"You actually wear those on space flights. There are no toilets on the spacecraft."
One of Patten's passions is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and encouraging young girls into the industry.
"It's so special when you see that impact, little girls saying you are a role model.
"Sometimes I get recognised out, with little kids coming up, and they're like: 'Oh, there's Norah. 'Norah's going to space, and she's from Ireland, she's from Mayo...'.
"It's to show them that sometimes big, impossible dream's do come true if you put in the groundwork.
"I get fan mail, it's really special to get letters from little kids. An Post are brilliant, I've had letters delivered to 'Norah Patten, Astronaut, Ballina', and they do make their way to my parents' home, which is just so lovely."
Aer Lingus announced its partnership with Dr Patten this week, pledging its support through a two-year partnership, ensuring she can travel between her home in Ireland and North America - the hub of her research preparation.
In advance of her spaceflight, Norah is undergoing intensive training and conducting advanced research at the National Research Council in Canada, working alongside International Institute for Astronautical Sciences researchers, Dr Shawna Pandya and Kellie Gerardi, who will join her on her space flight.
Her preparation has included spacesuit testing and evaluation, microgravity research, as well as undertaking high-G flights designed to experience gravitational force.
Lynne Embleton, Aer Lingus CEO, said: "At Aer Lingus, our mission is to connect people, places, and possibilities and Dr Norah Patten's extraordinary journey to become the first Irish person in space. is the perfect embodiment of that spirit.
"Her determination proves that with ambition, dedication, and the ability to dream big, anything is possible," Embleton said.