T-Minus Space Daily: Inspiration4 with Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor

Host: Maria Varmazas (N2K Networks)
Guest: Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor, Inspiration4 Astronaut
Date: January 3, 2026

Episode Overview

This special episode of T-Minus Space Daily features a deep-dive interview with Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor: geoscientist, artist, science communicator, and notably, the first female commercial spaceship pilot. Maria Varmazas sits down with Dr. Proctor following her keynote at Spacecom 2025 to discuss her unlikely journey to space, the power of embracing opportunity, the vital role of the arts in STEM fields, and the transformative experience of orbiting Earth as part of the Inspiration4 mission.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Dr. Proctor’s Journey to Space

• Pandemic Catalyst:

  • Dr. Proctor describes her life pre-Inspiration4: coping with divorce during the pandemic, living with her brother, and focusing on art and poetry as a coping mechanism.
  • The May 2020 SpaceX Demo-2 launch reignited her passion for space, though she never expected to fly herself.
  • “In May of 2020, I’m watching Bob and Doug with the Return to flight at the US with demo 2… I had no clue a year later, I’d be training for my own space mission.” (02:00)

• Winning the Prosperity Seat:

  • With the announcement of the all-civilian Inspiration4 mission in early 2021, Dr. Proctor submitted her entry and was selected for the Prosperity seat as an artist and poet.
  • “I found my authentic voice as an artist and a poet. So I am going to write this poem called Space to Inspire.” (03:23)

“Space to Inspire” – The Poem That Won Her a Ticket to Space

• Dr. Proctor recites her competition-winning poem, emphasizing justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI), and the role of the arts.
  • Notable excerpt:

    “But don’t forget the arts, the heartbeat of time
    Consider sending a poet who knows how to rhyme.
    So let us drop the mic and close the capsule door
    but Please make sure Dr. Proctor is on board.” (05:05)

• She reflects on weaving together her passion for space, her love of Star Wars/Star Trek, and her commitment to inclusion.
  • “It’s a Star wars acronym, but it’s a Star Trek meaning.” (05:37)

The Importance of Representation and the Arts in Space

• On commercial spaceflight broadening access:
  • “It’s not just for the highly qualified.…We are, we can write that narrative of human spaceflight and we want everybody to go, we want everybody of different sizes and different backgrounds.” (06:44)
• The relevance of diversity and inclusion amid pushback on DEI:
  • “If highly qualified is the only measure of human success, then, you know, we leave out people in all kinds of categories… we’re missing the beauty and the creativity and the inspiration that makes us human.” (07:02)
• On being the poet in space:
  • Interviewer: “They should have sent a poet.”
    Dr. Proctor: “And they did…. I’m floating and the earth’s behind me. And I’m like, oh, they should have sent a poet. And I go, they did.” (07:32)

Training for Spaceflight

• Selected as mission pilot by Jared Isaacman, Dr. Proctor describes the intense and rapid training needed, transforming from a geoscience professor and small plane pilot into a commercial astronaut in six months.
  • “Does he know that I’ve only flown a Cessna 172?...I don’t know what that means, but sure, I’ll be your mission pilot.” (08:45)
  • “You’re not going to be the mission pilot unless you qualify, because it’s safety first, right?” (09:23)
• Explains SpaceX’s engineer-focused, systems-centric training that enabled her to grow into the role.
  • “As the mission pilot, I really become a systems engineer. I am watching what the flight computer’s doing. I understand if something goes wrong, what we can and cannot do as a crew.” (11:29)

The Launch and Spaceflight Experience

• The emotional build-up to launch:
  • “You go and you get up, you have breakfast with your family one last time… I was more terrified that I would lose the opportunity.” (12:01, 12:15)
  • “By the time you get there and they’re, like, strapping you in, you’re like, light this sucker. We’re ready to go.” (13:36)
• Physical sensations during launch:
  • “It roars to life. You’re on a dragon, and you’re going to space… as the mission pilot, … I’m not effing this up.” (14:09)
  • “It wasn’t as shaky like on TV and the movies, they show you kind of violently shaking. They got that Falcon 9 dialed in.” (14:46)
• Zero-G and adaptation:
  • “Your hands just float up and you’re like, oh, yeah, this is cool… you get biology doing its thing, space adaptation.” (15:55)
  • Advice: “I highly recommend anybody — better living through chemistry. Just take medicine.” (16:47)

The Concept of “Earthlight” and the Overview Effect

• Dr. Proctor describes her unique realization in orbit:
  • “Nobody learns about Earth light. And it is fundamentally what makes life exist…. It fundamentally takes sunlight and transforms it into Earth light. And we live in Earth light. And it’s the most beautiful light there is.” (17:19)
• Analogy and transformation:
  • “Does a fish know it’s in water until it jumps out of the water, you know? And for me, that was my moment going to space, realizing that I was being bathed in Earthlight…” (17:59)
• Emotional rebirth:
  • Host: “You really are a phoenix that just rose from so much.”
    Dr. Proctor: “Oh, so much.” (18:39)

Art, Design, and Advocacy

• Dr. Proctor discusses her Zen knot (X knot) shirt design, “Faith Knot,” signifying her faith in humanity and the link between solving for space and solving for Earth.

  • “This design here… I call Faith Not. …I have faith in us, in humanity, to go out and, you know, advance human space flight for the purpose of making the Earth more sustainable.” (19:15)
  • “One of my sayings has been solving for space is solving for Earth.” (19:51)

• Keynote Preview & Call to Action:

  • “We get to actively design humanity’s future in space.…strive for that Jedi space, that just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive space, so that we can, you know, be a role model for what we want life on Earth to be like…” (20:17)
  • “Let their Earth light shine.” (21:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If highly qualified is the only measure of human success, then… we’re missing the beauty and the creativity and the inspiration that makes us human.” (07:02)
• “So let us drop the mic and close the capsule door but Please make sure Dr. Proctor is on board. My space to inspire is what we need inspiration for, for all of humanity.” (05:22)
• “You’re on a dragon, and you’re going to space… as the mission pilot, you know, first black woman to pilot a spaceship. I’m not effing this up.” (14:09)
• “It fundamentally takes sunlight and transforms it into Earth light. And we live in Earth light. And it’s the most beautiful light there is.” (17:19)
• “Solving for space is solving for Earth.” (19:51)
• “We get to actively design humanity’s future in space.…strive for that Jedi space, that just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive space…” (20:17)

Important Timestamps

• Life Before Inspiration4 & Entering Contest: 01:52–03:15
• Reciting “Space to Inspire” Poem and Themes: 03:48–06:35
• On Representation & Access in Space: 06:44–07:58
• Selecting and Training the Mission Pilot: 08:17–11:01
• Emotions on Launch Day: 12:01–13:45
• Description of Liftoff and In-Orbit Experience: 13:59–16:47
• The Meaning and Beauty of 'Earthlight': 17:07–18:39
• Art, T-Shirts, and Advocacy: 19:13–19:55
• Keynote Teaser & Final Message: 20:17–21:05

Conclusion

Dr. Sian Proctor’s journey from geology professor and artist to space pilot and advocate is a profound story of resilience, passion, and creative vision. Her insights on opportunity, preparation, representation, and the power of perspective from orbit offer inspiration not just for space professionals but for anyone dreaming of new horizons. With her parting call to let your “Earth light shine,” Dr. Proctor invites all listeners to imagine and help build a more just, creative, and inclusive future—on Earth and beyond.