CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –
The first Native American woman in space stated Wednesday she is overwhelmed by the sweetness and delicacy of Mother Earth, and is channeling “positive energy” as her five-month mission will get underway.
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann stated from the International Space Station that she’s acquired a lot of prayers and blessings from her household and tribal members. Mann is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California.
She confirmed off the dream catcher she took up along with her, a childhood present from her mom that she’s all the time held expensive. She stated it has given her energy throughout difficult occasions.
“It’s the strength to know that I have the support of my family and community back home and that when things are difficult or things are getting hard or I’m getting burned-out or frustrated, that strength is something that I will draw on to continue toward a successful mission,” Mann advised The Associated Press, which gathered questions from members and tribal information retailers throughout the nation.
Mann, 45, a Marine colonel who was born in Petaluma, California, stated it is vital to acknowledge there are all sorts of folks aboard the space station. It’s at the moment dwelling to 3 Americans, three Russians and one Japanese astronaut.
“What that does is it just highlights our diversity and how incredible it is when we come together as a human species, the wonderful things that we can do and that we can accomplish,” she stated.
Mann rocketed into orbit with SpaceX on Oct. 5.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely liable for all content material.