Abigail Harrison
{{about|the American science communicator|the English actress by the pseudonym "Abigail Harrison"|Abigail Hopkins}}{{short description|American internet personality and science communicator}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abigail Harrison
| image = Official Astronaut Abby Headshot.jpg
| caption = Harrison in 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|06|13}}{{Cite Instagram|user=astronautabbyofficial|postid=CQCXZPflaR6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909051142/https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCXZPflaR6/|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCXZPflaR6/|access-date=September 9, 2022|archive-date=September 9, 2022|date=June 13, 2021|title=Another orbit around our sun complete!}}
| birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
| employer = The Mars Generation
| known_for = Astronaut Abby
| website = {{URL|www.astronautabby.com}}
| education = Wellesley College (BA)
| occupation = Science communication
}}
Abigail Harrison (born June 13, 1997), also known as Astronaut Abby, is an American internet personality and science communicator, particularly in the area of the United States space program. Harrison is the founder and current leader of The Mars Generation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She is not an astronaut.
Early life and education
Harrison was born in 1997 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Harrison has sought to become the first person on Mars since an early age. Harrison attended Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools for K-12 education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/03/17/meet-abby-harrison-the-college-sophomore-headed-for-mars/37429107/|title=Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars|date=2017-03-17|publisher=USA Today|access-date=2017-08-07|last=Brooke Metz|archive-date=December 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202155047/https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/03/17/meet-abby-harrison-the-college-sophomore-headed-for-mars/37429107/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/08/18126802-15-year-old-astronaut-abby-fuels-her-outreach-mission-with-social-media|title=15-year-old Astronaut Abby fuels her outreach mission with social media|work=NBC News|last=Alan Boyle i|date=May 8, 2013|access-date=August 9, 2017|archive-date=May 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510172121/http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/08/18126802-15-year-old-astronaut-abby-fuels-her-outreach-mission-with-social-media|url-status=dead}} Harrison graduated in 2019 from Wellesley College with a Bachelors of Arts.{{Cite web|last=Bob Brown|date=August 27, 2015|title=Mars astronaut hopeful stationed on planet Wellesley for now|url=http://theswellesleyreport.com/2015/08/astronautabby-mars-astronaut-hopeful-stationed-at-planet-wellesley-until-2019|access-date=2017-08-07|publisher=The Swellesley Report|archive-date=September 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926143100/https://theswellesleyreport.com/2015/08/astronautabby-mars-astronaut-hopeful-stationed-at-planet-wellesley-until-2019/|url-status=live}} She pursued astrobiology (self-made major) and Russian Area Studies degrees.
Career
= The Mars Generation =
In 2015, Harrison founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit called The Mars Generation{{Cite news|url=http://www.more4kids.info/9130/astronaut-abby-role-model-for-kids/|title=Astronaut Abby is an Out-Of-This-World Role Model for Kids|date=2017-03-30|access-date=2017-08-10|last=Shannon Serpette|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819060503/http://www.more4kids.info/9130/astronaut-abby-role-model-for-kids/|url-status=live}} and currently serves as the President of the Executive Board.{{Cite news|url=http://www.themarsgeneration.org/abigail-harrison/|title=Abigail Harrison|publisher=The Mars Generation|access-date=2017-08-10|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808203419/http://www.themarsgeneration.org/abigail-harrison/|url-status=live}} The Mars Generation is an American non-governmental nonprofit organization involved in public outreach and advocating for human space exploration and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
The Mars Generation offers 3 main programs.{{Cite news|title=Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars|work=Space.com|url=http://www.space.com/30544-astronaut-abby-launches-mars-generation.html|access-date=2017-08-14}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2017 Eureka! Innovation award winner: The Mars Generation|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/06/20/2017-eureka-innovation-award-winner-the-mars.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815103525/https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/06/20/2017-eureka-innovation-award-winner-the-mars.html |archive-date=August 15, 2017 |access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.bizjournals.com}} The Future of Space Outreach program encourages the support of space exploration and STEM education.{{Cite news|title=Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars|language=en-US|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/launching-mars-generation-teen-mission-people-mars-144638601.html|access-date=2017-08-14}}{{Cite web|title=2017 Eureka! Innovation award winner: The Mars Generation|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/06/20/2017-eureka-innovation-award-winner-the-mars.html|access-date=2017-08-14|website=www.bizjournals.com}}{{Cite news|title=Mars and the Public Imagination|language=en|work=PCMAG|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2497161,00.asp|access-date=2017-08-14}} The Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program (SSA) is a dual program in mentorship and leadership designed to provide school and career guidance to students ages 13–24.{{Cite news|title=Launching 'The Mars Generation': Teen on Mission to Get People to Mars|work=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/30544-astronaut-abby-launches-mars-generation.html|access-date=2017-08-14}}
The final program provides full paid scholarships for students demonstrating financial need to attend U.S. Space Camp.{{Cite web|date=2017-03-17|title=Meet Abby Harrison, the college sophomore headed for Mars|url=http://college.usatoday.com/2017/03/17/meet-abby-harrison-the-college-sophomore-headed-for-mars/|access-date=2017-08-14|website=USA TODAY College}}{{Cite news|title=Mars and the Public Imagination|language=en|work=PCMAG|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2497161,00.aspv|access-date=2017-08-14}} In order to apply for consideration students need to be age 15–17, demonstrate interest in space exploration and an aptitude in STEM and complete the application, including obtaining a recommendation from a teacher and/or mentor.{{Cite web|title=The Mars Generation – GuideStar Profile|url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-2505480|access-date=2017-08-14|website=www.guidestar.org|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Kids who KARE: Astronaut Abby|language=en-US|work=KARE|url=http://www.kare11.com/mobile/article/life/family/kids-who-kare/kids-who-kare-astronaut-abby/89-23105189|access-date=2017-08-14}}
= Author =
In January 2021, Penguin Random House published a book by Harrison titled "Dream Big! How To Reach For Your Stars".{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622542/dream-big-by-abigail-harrison/?ref=PRH729FBB47F8&aid=26792&linkid=PRH729FBB47F8|title=Dream Big!|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=2020-09-01|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101133909/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622542/dream-big-by-abigail-harrison/?ref=PRH729FBB47F8&aid=26792&linkid=PRH729FBB47F8|url-status=live}} Harrison and Random House have stated that any proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to The Mars Generation, Harrison's nonprofit organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2203283/abigail-harrison/|title=Abigail Harrison|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=2020-09-01|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124113341/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2203283/abigail-harrison|url-status=live}}
= Public engagement =
Harrison's online presence as Astronaut Abby was spurred from an 8th grade National History Day project titled 'Debate and Diplomacy: The History of the ISS".{{Cite news|last=Erin Winick|date=2017-01-17|title=On Her way to Mars|publisher=Code Like A Girl|url=https://code.likeagirl.io/on-her-way-to-mars-4c87705b1031|access-date=2017-08-07|archive-date=December 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208063909/https://code.likeagirl.io/on-her-way-to-mars-4c87705b1031|url-status=live}} Harrison set up a Twitter account under the name of AstronautAbby to connect with NASA employees to get a quote for her project.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/astronaut-abby-is-crowdfunding-her-way-to-outer-space/208184441/|title='Astronaut Abby' is crowdfunding her way to outer space|work=Star Tribune|access-date=2017-08-07|last=MORGAN MERCER|date=May 20, 2013|archive-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813011402/http://www.startribune.com/astronaut-abby-is-crowdfunding-her-way-to-outer-space/208184441/|url-status=live}} On May 28, 2013, Harrison attended the Soyuz TMA-09M launch of her mentor, Astronaut Luca Parmitano, to the International Space Station, becoming Parmitano's Earth Liaison.{{Cite news|url=https://www.universetoday.com/104973/this-teenager-hosts-earth-to-space-qas-with-an-orbiting-astronaut/|title=This Teenager Hosts Earth-To-Space Q&As With An Orbiting Astronaut|date=2013-09-23|work=Universe Today|access-date=2017-08-10|last=Elizabeth Howell|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110110602/http://www.universetoday.com/104973/this-teenager-hosts-earth-to-space-qas-with-an-orbiting-astronaut/|url-status=live}}{{Citation|last=AstronautAbby|title=Soyuz TMA-09 Launch|date=2013-06-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvNxroUXRw4&t=118s|access-date=2017-08-10|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118203416/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvNxroUXRw4&t=118s|url-status=live}} As his Earth Liaison, she shared his 6-month experience of living in space with her social media community.{{Cite news|url=http://www.universetoday.com/101824/why-an-astronaut-asked-15-year-old-abby-to-help-get-the-word-out/#more-101824|title=Why An Astronaut Asked 15 Year Old Abby to Help Get The Word Out|date=2013-04-30|work=Universe Today|access-date=2017-08-07|last=Elizabeth Howell|archive-date=July 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708200322/https://www.universetoday.com/101824/why-an-astronaut-asked-15-year-old-abby-to-help-get-the-word-out/#more-101824|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.astronautabby.com/}}
- [https://www.astronautabby.com/ The Mars Generation – Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715040016/https://www.astronautabby.com/ |date=July 15, 2020 }}
- {{IMDb name|nm8736763}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Abigail}}
Category:American science communicators
Category:American Internet celebrities