The Pat Kenny Show Preparing to become the first Irish astronaut in space
Nov 18, 2025
Dr. Norah Patten, an aeronautical engineer and bioastronautics researcher, is preparing to become the first Irish person in space, while Dr. Shawna Pandya, a physician and neuroscientist, joins her as a crewmate. They discuss how childhood inspirations led them to pursue space, their rigorous training involving sea survival and parabolic flights, and the research they plan to conduct aboard the Virgin Galactic Delta mission in 2026, including studies on women's health and Irish university collaborations. Get ready for an exciting journey beyond our planet!
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Childhood Visit Sparked A 30-Year Quest
- Norah traced her space dream back to childhood visits to NASA and standing under the Saturn V rocket at Kennedy Space Center.
- She used a careers booklet from NASA as a roadmap and pursued aeronautical engineering over three decades to reach this point.
Expose Kids To Many Experiences
- Bring children to varied experiences like museums, zoos, and NASA to spark diverse interests.
- Expose kids early because you never know which visit will ignite a lifelong passion.
Progression Beats Overnight Breakthroughs
- Norah framed her career as year-by-year progression rather than a sudden leap, emphasizing steady steps and planning.
- She positioned exposure, education, and incremental choices as the pathway into the space sector.