Dave (7:17)

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Maria Varmazes (8:31)

Today's guest is astronaut Dr. Cyan Leo Proctor. She's collaborating with Spacecom 2025 to design a shirt to raise funds for the Proctor foundation for Art and Science. And I asked Dr. Proctor about how this partnership came about.

Dr. Cyan Leo Proctor (8:48)

Spacecom reached out to me and you can imagine my surprise when they did. And we came together and talked about the fact that I'm the first artist to like to go to space, that I got to paint in space, and that I have this really unique story in that I'd been chasing space my entire life and then I ended up getting there in such a non conventional way. So back in 2013, I was part of the hi Seas mission on the Big island of Hawaii. It's a habitat that's a Mars analog and I was part of the very first crew to live in that habitat. And when I was going through that, I realized that a lot of what we were doing was solving for Earth while we were thinking about humanity living on Mars and what it will mean for us when we go back to the moon and onto Mars. And how everything that we're doing, particularly around human spaceflight, is really solving for a lot of the challenges here on Earth. For the last over decade, that's been part of my messaging. And so when I got Inspiration four and became a space artist during COVID I started thinking about how, how I wanted to represent the future of humanity in space. And the type of messaging that would really resonate with my art. And so it just made sense to bring that message and my art together.

Unknown (10:21)

Can you tell me about Earthlight? I was reading on your website about this and it's so fascinating. Can you tell me a bit about it, please?

Dr. Cyan Leo Proctor (10:28)

Yeah. I went to space. I'm a geoscience professor who became a space artist during COVID And then it won me a seat to space because I wrote a poem. But I had been chasing space my entire life. And I know that the Earth has a high reflectivity, but when I got to space and I was in this amazing cupola, this continuous window that was on top of our dragon capsule so that we could see the Earth, I realized that I was being bathed in earthlight. And I'd been fascinated by the overview effect before going to space. And I was wondering, why is it that astronauts can be in space and have this transformative experience, but yet you can show people a picture of our planet from space here on Earth, and they won't be transformed in that same way? And so it got me as my scientist brain thinking, okay, you know, is it because you're floating in space, because you have, you're adapting to space, what is it that causes this, you know, transformative shift? And then I was in low Earth orbit and I realized how illuminated I was up in the cupola. And the fact that that was not direct sunlight, it's designed to be shielded from sunlight coming in. And it, you know, hit me. I was like, oh my goodness, I'm being bathed in Earth light. And I'm like this amazing light ever. And as an artist, that's where I think the connection came. Because I was looking at the planet and I was like, oh my goodness, it's stunningly beautiful and bright, and it's a portrait in motion and all of these things. And then I'm like, whoa, I'm being illuminated. I'm being bathed in Earth light. This is the most beautiful light there is. And it just hit me that we learn about sunlight, we learn about moonlight, but we don't learn about the most magical life giving light that there is. And that's Earth light. Life would not exist if it wasn't for Earth light. Our planet fundamentally takes sunlight, the full electromagnetic spectrum. And as soon as it starts getting into the Earth's magnetic sphere and atmosphere, our planet strips a lot of that harmful radiation away. And by the time it gets down to us, it's fundamentally been changed. It's not sunlight anymore, it's Earth light. So we live in Earth light.

Unknown (12:57)

Many artists like the conversation is often about capturing that light and chasing, trying to get that. And what an amazing thing to have that experience going back to the beautiful design that you made. There's a mission behind this that I definitely don't want to miss out on speaking about. Can you tell me a bit about this mission and also why it's so important to you?

Dr. Cyan Leo Proctor (13:18)

Yeah. You know, when I came back from space and you know, our mission was all about giving back and we did a $200 million fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In the end, we raised closer to $250 million to help end childhood cancer. I thought about my role in not only that, but also in the fact that I've been a community college professor for now 26 years. A lot of people don't realize this, that I've never worked in the space industry. I've been a geoscience professor. I am still a full time geoscience professor. I learned so much about being a community college professor in particular and how the community college is the hidden gem of education. We're all access. Yeah. I can have a 17 year old who just graduated from high school, sitting next to a 65 year old who is a grandmother who hasn't been in School in 50 years and this eager to get back and to learn. And you've got to teach everyone. There's not a lot of resources given to the community college. There's a lot for K12, there's a lot for university and research one institutions. I thought about the impact that space has had in my life. I started the Proctor foundation for Art and Science. Our goal is to give community college students and faculty experience experiential learning opportunities. And the first one that we've developed is a partnership with Space Camp. Yeah. And so my foundation sends community college students and teachers to Space Camp where they can go and have this experience. And I really have a focus towards the humanities. And anybody can apply, whether you're a science major or humanities major, business major. But I really want to focus on the people who are non stem to some extent because I want them to know that they have a place in space waiting for them. Their superpower as a business person or a lawyer or an artist or whatever. Their passion is that we need those skills in space exploration.

Unknown (15:53)

You are really speaking my language as a communicator and as a person who's not a STEM person, I really, really appreciate you saying that so much. To me, you truly are a polymath. You have so many different perspectives and areas of expertise that I can only imagine how it informs each other in your mind. I guess my question is for those of us who are humanities folks, what do you want us to know about how space can inform what we do? I mean, again, as an artist and a scientist and an explorer, I mean, what do you want us to know?

Dr. Cyan Leo Proctor (16:25)

Well, there's two things to this. One is that there is art in science and there is science, science and art. And so I really want those STEM people, those science, technology, engineering and math individuals to recognize and acknowledge the art that is in what they're doing, the beautiful designs. The Dragon capsule is a work of art and beauty. So is the Falcon 9 rocket. And realizing that you can have, you know, functional, like purpose built items and they can still be works of art and beauty in there, and being able to see that and acknowledge that creativity that enabled you to design and build things that impact humanity in such a magnificent way. And then for the artists out there in the humanities, I want you to realize that there is science in what you do. Whether it's the music you're listening to and the mathematics behind music, or if it's the painting and the art that you're doing. Knowing that color is light and that our eyes have been designed as energy detectors. We see the world around us through color and color is energy and really kind of like understanding that, there's really amazing science in that. And when we look at all of the majors or careers or things that people have a passion for, they involve, they involve both art and science in magical, beautiful ways. And then the other thing is that, you know, my call sign is Leo. So if you look at my patch here, it's doctors. It's Dr. Cyan, Leo Proctor. And so when we went through fighter jet training, I was given my call sign. And it's. You go through a naming ceremony and it was amazing because they sit you down in a chair and you have your family and your friends and your crew around you and they're like, you know, you can't say anything. And people stand up and basically nominate names for you. And so somebody stood up and said, you know, I think she should be called Picasso because she's an artist. And everybody was like, Picasso. Oh, that's cool. You know, and I'm sitting there like, oh, Picasso. And then the, the next person stood up and goes, no, Cyan is not a Picasso. She is an artist and a scientist. She is a modern day Leonardo da Vinci. And everybody went, oh, Leonardo. And Then they said her call sign will be Leo.

Maria Varmazes (19:15)

Love that. I love that. It's so true.

Unknown (19:18)

What a great name. I just have to ask just your thoughts about what you're excited about in terms of what's happening in space and the space industry right now. I'm so curious to hear your thoughts. Like, what's really got you jazzed?

Dr. Cyan Leo Proctor (19:29)

Oh man, I feel so fortunate to be alive during this new era of space exploration. It's so exciting to think about, you know, humanity going back to the moon, putting the first female footprints on the moon and a first person of color and, and then us going to Mars and really kind of like figuring out how to not just survive off Earth, but to thrive. Because when we go and we figure out what is the best energy system for the moon and Mars, what is the best water recycling system, how do we use resources in these locations, all of these like really hard questions that cause, you know, need innovation and creativity to answer that all of that is going to be done here on Earth and that's all of that technology and knowledge is going to be spun off to make us more sustainable here. Because you know, there is no better planet in our solar system than Earth. And you know, our ability to use human space exploration, exploration as a way to solve these wicked problems here so we can thrive is, you know, in the end, that is the goal.

Maria Varmazes (21:08)

We'll be right back.

Dave (21:14)

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Maria Varmazes (22:36)

Welcome back. Sometimes when we do these stories, I learn about a thing that I never knew existed before. And now. Hey, new fear unlocked. Here's one for today. Space advertising the American Astronomical Society or the AAS is calling for a global ban on it. And did you know it was even possibly a thing? Yeah, I didn't either. United States law already prohibits licensing any launches whose payloads could contain material that could be used for obtrusive space advertising, as in advertising that can be recognized by a human and the naked eye, which is great, but globally it's a different matter. Stop me if this phrase feels familiar, but there are currently no agreed upon global norms explicitly about space advertising, and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty requires due regard for others. But again, that is open to wide interpretation. Adding to the urgency Here, this past April 2024, Russia's Avant Space Systems launched a prototype CubeSat to demonstrate optical light advertisements from space to us folks on the ground. And the idea is that a cubesat constellation could form a billboard using laser light projection. Understandably, the AAS is very concerned about potential space advertising as it would be potentially harmful as it would be potentially harmful interference with ground based astronomy. And that seems like it's putting it lightly if I'm being honest. Just two weeks ago the AAS had its annual meeting and they strengthened their call to action on this, urging the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer space or the COPUAs, to explicitly prohibit space advertising because sci fi dystopias are meant to be a warning, not a road map, y'all. That's it for T minus for January 27, 2025 brought to you by N2K CyberWire for additional resources from today's report, check out our show notes@spare.n2k.com we'd love to know what you think of this podcast. Your feedback ensures we deliver the insights that keep you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. If you like our show, please share a rating and review on your favorite podcast app. Also, please fill out the survey in the show notes or send an email to spacen2k.com we're privileged that N2K CyberWire is part of the daily routine of the most influential leaders and operators in the public and private sector. From the Fortune 500 to many of the world's preeminent intelligence and law enforcement agencies, N2K makes it easy for companies to optimize your biggest investment your people. We make you smarter about your teams while making your team smarter. Learn how@n2k.com this episode was produced by Alice Carruth. Our associate producer is Liz Stokes. We are mixed by Elliot Peltzman and Trey Hester with original music by Elliot Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Ibin. Our executive editor is Brandon Karp, Simone Petrella is our president, Peter Kilby is our publisher, and I am your host, Maria Varmazes, about to hop on a plane. Thanks for listening. We'll see you tomorrow. T minus.

Dave (26:03)

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