Laura’s interest in aerospace stemmed when she was in second grade, and someone came in to introduce the class to various lithographs of planets as a STEM Outreach activity. With the stunning images of planets, she became fascinated with space and knew she wanted to do something related to the field. As she grew older, she got involved on social media sites such as Twitter and found NASA social media accounts. There, she began networking and making friends to enter the industry. For Rosie, at a young age, Rosie was always a curious child who loved to ask complex questions. When she received her first telescope from her father to inquire about aliens, she fell in love with astronomy and space further. With her interest in aerospace, her father, a computer engineer in aerospace, pushed her to pursue her passion for space. While Rosie did not pursue a technical background in aerospace, she wanted to do creative work and began her journey through NASA Socials in 2015. She even began hosting her own star parties while doing astronomy.

Both Laura and Rosie transitioned into the industry from different paths. When Laura was entering college, the Space Shuttle program was ending, and she knew she wanted to work in aerospace, but was lost on which path to take. At the time, there were very few opportunities to enter the industry compared to today. Internships were not common and  scholarships nor fellowships were almost non-existence. In order to achieve her dreams, she chose the closest path that she thought could get her through the doors. Laura majored with an IT background that gave her a stable job and the ability to work remotely to pursue her dreams in aerospace. She was able to make the leap into aerospace by networking, going to events, and NASA Socials. Similarly, Rosie did not start out in the industry. Right out of high school, she started doing photography for bands at their concerts. Her creative skill set translated into fashion photography later. When she started attending NASA Socials, she realized she could do it and be capable of more. With NASA Social helping her make the leap, Rosie was able to pursue her goal of making a long-term impact through space and telling the stories of the industry.

Laura’s most exciting project has been the opportunity to participate in Crew 10 launch activities, such as crew walkout and photographing the launch. It resonated with her because it was the first credentialed launch Her Cosmic Orbit participated in to see a different side of space and to bring their perspective to the community. For Rosie, Crew 10 was also one of her most meaningful projects. However, the one that topped it all was the announcement of the Artemis II crew. The event resonated with her because that was where she got to meet Laura, and they were the first group that got to interview the crew off the stage! It was a huge moment for both of them and really started their drive to develop Her Cosmic Orbit. To be able to continue to work on projects in the aerospace sector and capture the historic making of Artemis II. 

For Rosie, overcoming imposter syndrome has been the biggest challenge that she has frequently faced. She has a creative background compared to the formal education and technical background that most people in the industry have. What has helped her navigate these challenges is finding community and support. Rosie works close to Aisha Bowe, and she said that Aisha always says she likes to be unrealistic and delusional because you never know what you can actually do. Growth comes from going out and being uncomfortable. You’d be surprised at what you can actually achieve. Laura faces the same challenges and finds that movement to keep pushing forward has helped her overcome the struggles. You will find a way, you will find your place - keep going!

During moments of creative fatigue and stress, Laura and Rosie have found that community and balance were key components in helping them move forward. They rely on each other and friends for support through difficult times. They have also found that the space community has always helped them during times of need. Individually, when Rosie was stressed from external life factors, she took a break from work to focus on activities that allowed her to continue to be creative but without the pressure of work. The break helped her remember why she loved to do the work that she does. When Laura gets stressed, she remembers that there is too much to do to let the voice of doubts and negativity take over. “With a woman going to the moon and humans going multiplanetary, there is too much to do to let anything stop us” - Laura Holt. 

With similar themes as before, in order to thrive long-term, being confident, willing to take risks, going out of the comfort zone, having humility, being curious, and asking questions will all help someone to thrive long-term. As a media coverage team, launches and events can change quickly, so they have to be adaptable and think on the fly when something changes. Be comfortable in uncertainty.

Most newcomers have the feeling of imposter syndrome, and it can feel really isolating. The best way to avoid them is by finding community, being understanding, and going out of your comfort zone.

While a small team, Her Cosmic Orbit is inherently cross-functional through the multiple collaborations that must be done on major projects. Her Cosmic Orbit has to collaborate with NASA PR, scientists, and other creatives to be able to deliver stories that are not told by journalists but from the actual perspective of industry workers. A big part of what Her Cosmic Orbit does is to bring people from the industry and share their experience with others. In order to share these stories, they coordinate with other organizations through communication, being open, adaptable, and using online tools for logistics. 

Being trustworthy, respectful, open-minded, creative, problem-solving, and having compassion are some of the most valued traits on the team. While Her Cosmic Orbit does media coverage, their driving point is creating a space of inclusivity and accessibility. They don’t want to state the facts but to tell the story and make it more human. Questions they may ask themselves are “Did we reflect identities who might not see themselves in these stories? Did we move the culture forward in a meaningful way?" - Rosie Johnson 

Use social media and learn how to market yourself to be able to connect and network with others. Find community, join local events, volunteer, and find experience to put yourself out there. Continue to learn and grow. Even building something small from a YouTube video will help put you out there.

To learn more about their story and media coverage, follow them:

@hercosmicorbit on Instagram

Her Cosmic Orbit Website 

Her Cosmic Orbit YouTube