The DOECL wishes Zena Cardman, UNC-Chapel Hill alum and creative writing minor, safe travels as she ventures to the International Space Station this fall! Cardman and three other crew members plan to embark on this mission as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Mission.
For this mission, Cardman will be taking on the position as Commander aboard the Dragon spacecraft. This will be Cardman’s first time in space and will last 203 days, with the goal of this mission being to conduct research and contribute to operations aboard the orbiting laboratory.
During her time at UNC-Chapel Hill, Cardman earned a Bachelor of Science in biology, honors in poetry, and minors in marine science, chemistry, and creative writing. In 2014, she completed a Master of Science in marine sciences.
She returned to UNC in 2019 to speak about her career as an astronaut. Cardman reflected on the skills she learned in the ECL department that contributed to her career:
“Science is all about exploring our world around us…and trying to answer questions about how it all happens. And I also found that writing did the same thing—exploring our world around us…and how we fit into it, how it all works.”
Cardman also values writing as a tool to convey scientific discovery to the public:
“I think a really important part of any science or technological mission is being able to convey how important that is to people who wouldn’t otherwise get excited about it.”
Cardman will deliver the commencement address to the graduating Class of 2024 this spring. The commencement will be held on May 11 at 7pm, in Kenan Stadium. Cardman hopes to impart a message about finding value in the present moment:
“A new class of graduates includes the most incredible talent, hope and energy. I can’t wait to see their impact on the world. The chance to speak to graduates is a huge honor and humbling. It can be tricky to stay present while also looking forward to an imminent future, but I’d encourage graduating seniors to think about what’s right in front of them, here and now. Who will you carry with you into this next stage? What do you value? What do you want to improve for others? The answers to these questions can be found in the present and will carry through a lifetime.”
Congratulations, Zena Cardman!
