Nicole A. Mann

Summary

Colonel Nicole Mann was selected by NASA in June 2013. She launched to the International Space Station (ISS) as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, Endurance, on October 5, 2022. The Crew-5 astronauts lived and worked aboard the ISS for nearly six months as part of Expedition 68. During their mission, Crew-5 contributed to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, including cardiovascular health, bioprinting, and fluid behavior in microgravity to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth. After splashing down safely in their Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, March 11, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 completed the agency’s fifth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station. The international crew of four spent 157 days in orbit. Mann conducted two spacewalks totaling 14 hours, 02 minutes.

The California native holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Mann is a Colonel in the Marine Corps and served as a combat fighter pilot and test pilot in the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet. She deployed twice aboard aircraft carriers in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

She is the first indigenous woman from NASA to go to space. She is registered with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.

Personal

She was born in Petaluma, California and married Travis R. Mann. They are proud parents of a son and live in Houston, TX. Mann is Native American and registered with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. She is an avid runner and enjoys backpacking and cooking.

Education

Graduated from Rancho Cotate High School, Rohnert Park, California, in 1995. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, class of 1999. Earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Fluid Mechanics from Stanford University in 2001. In 2009, she graduated in class 135 from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, MD.

Experience

Mann was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1999. Following graduate school, she completed The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia and reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for flight training in 2001. She earned her wings of gold as a Naval Aviator in 2003 and reported to VFA-106 for fleet training in the F/A-18C. She began her operational flying career in 2004 with the Thunderbolts of VMFA-251 based out of Beaufort, South Carolina. During this assignment, she deployed twice with CVW-1 aboard the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) and flew combat missions in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Upon return from her second deployment, Mann reported to the United States Naval Test Pilot School, Class 135, at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. In June 2009, she began her Developmental Test tour at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO THREE (VX-23) as an F/A-18 Test Pilot/Project Officer. While at VX-23, Mann executed a variety of flight tests, including loads envelope expansion, flying qualities, carrier suitability and ordnance separation in the F/A-18A-F. In the spring of 2011, Mann assumed duties as the VX-23 Operations Officer.  In July 2012, Mann was assigned to PMA-281 as the Joint Mission Planning System – Expeditionary (JMPS-E) Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead when she was selected as an astronaut candidate. She has accumulated more than 2,700 flight hours in 25 types of aircraft, 200 carrier arrested landings and 47 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

NASA Experience

Mann was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Her astronaut candidate training included intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, Russian language training, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. She completed astronaut candidate training in July 2015. She has served as the T-38 Safety and Training Officer and as the Assistant to the Chief Astronaut for Exploration where she led the astronaut corps in the development of the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System, and Exploration Ground Systems for missions to the Moon. She launched to the International Space Station (ISS) as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, Endurance, on October 5, 2022. The Crew-5 astronauts lived and worked aboard the ISS for nearly six months as part of Expedition 68. During their mission, Crew-5 contributed to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, including cardiovascular health, bioprinting, and fluid behavior in microgravity to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth. After splashing down safely in their Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, March 11, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 completed the agency’s fifth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station. The international crew of four spent 157 days in orbit. Mann executed two spacewalks, conducting upgrades to the space station’s solar arrays, totaling 14 hours, 02 minutes. She supported two spacewalks as the robotic arm operator and captured the NG-18 cargo resupply spacecraft, S.S. Sally Ride.

Awards/Honors

Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various unit commendations. Trident Scholar, Academic All-American (soccer), Distinguished Graduate – U.S. Naval Academy, Honor Graduate – U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Class 135, Leroy Grumman “Best Paper” Award – East Coast Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, NASA 2015 Stephen D. Thorne Safety Award, 2017 Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement, 2019 inductee into the Academic All-American Hall of Fame, Aerospace States Association 2023 Distinguished Aerospace Service Award, and the 2023 Marine Corps Military Order of the Iron Mike Award.

Organizations

Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Tailhook Association, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Alumni Association, United States Naval Academy Alumni Association.

Mann, Nicole Aunapu (PDF 395 KB)