Journey To Space

Details Of Niamh’s Journey Thus Far

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2003
Huge Career Change
August 2011
Combining Science and Theatre
August 2011
Late 2011
The Wake Up Moment
Feb 2014
One Small Step for Niamh!
Feb 2014
2014/2015/2016
Theatre Show - To Space
2015
Space Studies Programme at International Space University
2015
2017
A Simulated Mars mission in the high Utah desert
June- August 2017
Core Lectures Assoc Chair, Space Studies Programme
June- August 2017
2017
Theatre Show - ‘Diary of a Martian Beekeeper’
2017
Zero Gravity Flight
2017
Feb, 2018
Comms, DMARS Simulated Mars Mission, Ramon Crater, Israel
June 2018
A Live launch at Baikonur cosmodrome June 2018
June 2018
July- August 2018
Co-Chair of Space Humanities, Space Studies Programme
Space Week, 2018
Art & Space Panel at Space Rocks, ESTEC, The Netherlands
Space Week, 2018
Science week, 2018
Outstanding Contribution to Science Communications, awarded by Science Foundation Ireland
December 2018
Return of Alexander Gerst to Earth, December 2018
December 2018
End Of 2018
Speaking at NASA Johnson Space Centre, Houston
End Of 2018
The Late Late Show
Late Late
End Of 2018
April, 2019
Appointed STEM Ambassador, Irish Girl Guides
July, 2019
The Moon Landing Celebrations, RTE
July, 2019
Space Week, 2019
Presenter, ESA Space Talks, ESTEC, The Netherlands
Science Week, 2019
‘To Space’ theatre performance at SFI conference
Science Week, 2019
Jan 2020
Appointed Adjunct Faculty, International Space University
Feb 2020
ESA Solar Orbiter launch, ESOC Darmstadt
Feb 2020
2020
Publication of memoir ‘Dream Big’ from Mercier Press
April-June 2020
Presenter of ‘Space Hub’ on RTE’s Home School Hub
April-June 2020
July 2020
New Podcast Series ‘Humans of Space’
New podcast series from Dr Niamh Shaw
July 2020
Galaxy Squad for Young Explorer launches!
July 2020
July-August 2020
Expedition Coach, Interactive Space Program
2020
Nothing To Fear
2020

Huge Career Change

In 2003, I stepped away from a full-time academic career in research to pursue the creative arts, something that I had always been interested in but I had never explored it fully. I knew I had to make a change in my working life to feel more fulfilled.

Combining Science and Theatre

In August 2011 I was creating my first show, combining science with theatre. I was making a show about particles because I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. And some of the maths which explores particle physics made me look at my life decisions and all the possible outcomes of my life, and what would have happened if those lives still continued- The girl who stayed on in full-time research, the girl who stayed working at London Underground in her first engineering job, the girl who emigrated to New Zealand and took that job in fish gut research (yes!), the girl who wanted to be a ballerina, the girl who wanted to be a muppet (yes, I made that one) and the girl who wanted to be an astronaut.

The Wake Up Moment

It was then, that I realised that I had done little or nothing about being an astronaut, which perplexed me. Since the age of 8, I’ve known that I wanted to go to Space. But, 30 years later I had done absolutely nothing about it. When did I give up on that dream?

This was my moment of clarity. Realising this changed everything, and the course of my life forever. I saw myself completely differently in that moment. My perception shifted. Now it still took me another 3 years to do something about it! But everything was different after that day. And so it began. I still have a very long way to go, but I’ve already experienced some pretty great adventures.

One Small Step for Niamh!

My first step into the space dream was an article in The Irish Times, on February 11th 2014. I knew that if I went public then I couldn’t back out. I had decided to devote 2014 to explore how to get to space. And becoming the Artist in Residence at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory

Theatre Show – To Space

I made a theatre show about it all, called ‘To Space’, which I performed at Dublin Fringe Festival in 2014, then at Edinburgh fringe 2015 and then an international tour of the show, including Adelaide Fringe in 2016.

I met with people working at the European Space Agency (ESA) for the first time, reached out to a wider global space community who all supported me in making this show. So I was off!

The International Space University’s annual Space Studies Programme

Through the people that I had met in making ‘To Space’ in 2015, I attended the International Space University’s annual Space Studies Programme in Ohio in partnership with NASA, through a scholarship that ESA awarded me. This was a nine-week intensive programme where I met and worked with over 120 people from all over the world who shared my passion for space.

I also met with astronauts and leading space scientists and engineers who all share my passion for space. Normalising a dream, that up until then seemed impossible. (I wrote a weekly blog about my experiences on the Space Studies Programme)

A Simulated Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station in the high Utah desert

Some of my Space Studies Programme alumni invited me to join them as an artist and writer in applying for a mission to Mars (ish!)- a simulated Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station in the high Utah desert in the US.

Our application was successful and so in January 2017, I spent two and half days getting to the habitat and together with my fellow 4 crew mates of Crew 173, we lived for over 2 weeks as if we were on Mars – with limited water, food and energy, no showers and a requirement to ‘suit up’ in space suits every time we had to venture outside on EVA Extra Vehicular Activities). (I wrote a daily blog about my experiences).

It was an experience that I will never forget and it taught me loads about long-duration missions and the importance of being a selfless crew mate. And that space exploration is largely about people and taking care of each other.

Theatre Show – ‘Diary of a Martian Beekeeper’

There are so many people involved in putting just one astronaut in to space, so many years of research and preparation. And it really got me thinking about the massive group effort behind space, the extent of cutting-edge engineering, science and design to minimise risk to life and the harsh reality of long-duration human missions on inhospitable and extreme environments. I wanted to represent these people, these ‘outside the box’ thinkers, these selfless crew members and unsung heroes in my next theatre show. Thanks to funding from Science Foundation Ireland and the support of CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, and a kick-ass creative team, I presented ‘Diary of a Martian Beekeeper’ during Space week October 2017. The show will be presented in Dublin at Smock Alley theatre Mar 13-16 and then embarks on a UK tour later this summer.

It is said that the ‘Earthrise’ picture kickstarted the whole environmental movement, made us really think about how fragile our planet is and that we need to do more to protect our beautiful Earth. I learned beekeeping with my father last year and brought this in to the show to highlight the dangerous fate of bees and that if we all work together, we can achieve incredible things.

Zero Gravity Flight

My space adventures continued – I got to go to Star City in Moscow in August 2017 and visited the Cosmonaut Training Facility as well as experience a Zero Gravity flight. This was amazing!

It’s known as the ‘vomit comet’ because so many experience sickness due to the extreme motion and flight path of the plane. I was sure that I would throw up for the entire flight and that I wouldn’t know how to move in free fall, but I was thrilled with myself when I got along quite well in the flight.

Weightlessness is a crazy sensation, the closest thing I could compare it to would be learning to swim. You are constantly trying to figure out what’s happening with your body, and so the longer you are in free fall the more you understand how to move. It was an incredible experience and I intend to return to Moscow again for another flight, hopefully later this year.

A Live launch at Baikonur cosmodrome June 2018

On June 8th 2018, 3 astronauts launched to the International Space Station, one of them was Alexander Gerst, a Geophysicist and one of European Space Agency’s corp of astronauts. He launched with NASA’s Serena Aunon Chancellor and Roscosmos Caomonaut Sergei Prokoviev. They were beginning their six-month mission on the International Space Station. And I went to Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazaksthan to watch their launch live on the Soyuz rocket MS-09. It was incredible.

Return of Alexander Gerst to Earth, December 2018

Alexander Gerst and his 2 crewmates that I had seen launch, returned to Earth safely in the early hours of 20 December 2018 after 197 days in space, 195 of them on board the International Space Station ISS. The Soyuz MS-09 touched down close to Karaganda in the Kazakh steppe right on schedule at 06:02 Central European Time. And I returned to Kazkasthan to witness his return to Earth. And while, I was in the country where he landed, my team and I were stranded 400 kms away due to sever weather conditions preventing us from travelling to the landing site. It was so disappointing to be so near and yet still so far.

Thankfully, while at a recent trip to the European Space Agency (ESA), I met Alexander & I shared my story with him, of how I had attended his launch and near-landing.

Speaking at NASA Johnson Space Centre, Houston

In November, I travelled to NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas to speak at their annual Cross Industry Innovation Summit, to speak about my work as performer and communicator and desire to get to space as citizen:

The Late Late Show

And the year ended with an appearance on RTE’s Late Late show to discuss progress so far:

New book ‘Dream Big- an Irishwoman’s Space Odyssey’ published by Mercier Press in March 2020

Further details of the book here: Mercier Press

Sunday Times Book Review here

Niamh on RTE’s ‘To The Moon & Back’ July 2019

“We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy but because it is hard” – JFK

On July 20th 2019, RTÉ presented a special live event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, broadcasting from Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork. It brought audiences on a journey to relive the moment that changed our world forever as Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon.

Presented by Aine Lawlor in front of a live studio audience, that that epic journey with enhanced ‘real-time’ archive footage was re-lived with a panel of experts including astronaut Cady Coleman who detailed the multiple unforeseen dangers encountered by Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on their eight day voyage. Special guests Anne Doyle, Eilish O’Carroll and Fr Brian D’Arcy took us back to 20 July 1969 with their memories of the moon landing.

The programme also highlighted the unique Irish contribution to space exploration from the Earl of Ross’s Leviathan telescope to the calculations provided by mathematician Pat Norris – that not only changed Apollo’s lunar trajectory – but the entire course of history.

Culturally, alongside space inspired artworks presented by Dr. Niamh Shaw Artist in residence at Blackrock Castle Observatory, there were musical performances from Gavin James, Eleanor McEvoy & the Chieftains.

50 Years: To The Moon and Back was funded in partnership with RTÉ, The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland.

Presenter of ‘Space Hub’ segment on RTE’s Home School Hub

Home School Hub, and its companion show Home School Extra, is an educational television programme for young learners aged from 5-11years which was created in response to the closure of all schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland in 2020.

As presenter of ‘Space Hub’ segment, I brought space topics to the programme, talking about the Sun, Stargazing and dreaming big. I was delighted to work with a great team on bringing this segment to the show, including The Ark Childrens Centre, Dublin and Macalla Teo.

‘Humans of Space’ is a new podcast from Dr. Niamh Shaw, a blend of space, curiosity and creativity for ears of all kinds.

New podcast series from Dr Niamh Shaw

Join Niamh as she chats with people that she has met along her journey so far (in getting to space), people from many parts of the world, people who have inspired her, people who have achieved incredible great things in their life, and people who want to change the world. The conversation is warm, curious and deeply human, as they explore together what drives us to be the people we need to be.

Join Dr. Niamh Shaw’s Galaxy Squad!

Space explorers at the ready, join Dr. Niamh Shaw for her new Galaxy Squad at home series.

Staying curious during lockdown, Niamh has made a series of episodes where she talks with space explorers from around the world, with a simple activity to do at home at the end of each episode.

Preiering at the Festival of Curiosity, Niamh has extended the video series into an online community, where anyone can join to become a member of her Galaxy Squad.

Further details at this link here

Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself

I spent the first half of my life avoiding what I truly wanted, keeping myself busy achieving other things , but now I’m finally focussed. And I want to share everything with the public in the pursuit of this goal- tears, fears, laughter, joy, vulnerability, honesty, all of it to ultimately remind us that we can be anything we want to be, if we are brave and bold enough to simply let that be.

I sure would love your help and support in helping me realise this goal.

Niamh the Space Explorer

Niamh is passionate about all things Space and shares her expeditions and missions publicly online and other media platforms. She is currently an analog astronaut. Since she was 8 years old, Niamh has dreamed of space travel. After years of denial and gripped by fear of failure, she reassessed her life, re-jigged her perceptions of success and failure that finally allowed her to embrace a new reality as space explorer. She is actively engaging in a number of training programmes across the world to bring her one step closer to realising her dream. Every year building on the last. Because, what do you do with impossible dreams? When do you let them go? Have you let yours go?

Highlights of her mission so far include a visit to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia. During her time there, to experience a Zero gravity flight (see movie below) exploring weightlessness on Earth and the frailties of human in the extremes.

She participated in a simulated Mars mission in January 2017 as the artist and journalist for Crew 173. She was part of a team of six international analogue astronauts at the Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert. She will soon be announcing the next phase of her space journey and further analogue missions to extreme terrains on Earth.

Niamh brings her Stargazer Lottie Doll with her on all her missions, so that when she visits schools to share her adventures, young girls and boys might be inspired to pursue their own career in space and science.

She is Co-Chair of Humanities at the International Space University’s 2018 annual Space Studies Programme in The Netherlands, was Core Lectures Associate Chair in 2017, and is an 2015 alumnus of this same programme.

Experiencing Weightlessness in ZeroG Parabolic Flight

In August 2017 Niamh was invited to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia. During her time there, she experienced her first Zero gravity flight to explore weightlessness on Earth and the frailties of human in the extremes. As part of her mission, she invited the public to join her by sending her objects that they would like to fly in zero gravity. She brought a painting of Mars specially made by Hayden Geraghty, an 8year old super space fan. And of course Stargazer Lottie came along too.

She continues to plan her next analogue mission to extreme terrains on Earth, and will participate in further training next Spring at Star City.

Stay tuned for further announcements of the next phase of her space journey!

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Simulated Mars Mission in the Utah Desert, January 2017

In January 2017, Niamh became an analog astronaut at The Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert in the USA. She was a member of Crew 173 along with Michaela Musilova (Crew Commander, Slovakia), Roy Naor (Crew Geologist, Israel), Idriss Sisaid (Crew Engineer, France) and Richard Blake (Greenhab Officer, Australia), Niamh was crew journalist and artist documenting Crew173’s mission and shared daily updates on their Facebook page and Twitter social media accounts.

The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), is a full-scale analog facility in Utah that supports Earth-based research in pursuit of the technology, operations, and science required for human space exploration. It hosts an eight-month field season for professional scientists and engineers as well as college students of all levels, in training for human operations on Mars. The relative isolation of the facility allows for rigorous field studies as well as human factors research. Crew173 carried out their mission under the full constraints of a simulated Mars mission. The mission was almost 3 weeks in duration, in total isolation with limited water, power and food supplies, surrounded by terrain that is a geologic Mars analog, which provided for rigorous field studies as they would be conducted during an actual mission on our neighbouring red planet.

A series of images, videos and published diaries of the mission follows: