Ask an Astronaut
Join retired NASA Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger for an exciting and interactive virtual campfire chat, where she will answer students' questions about space, her really cool job, rocket ships and so much more! Hear first hand about her experience trailblazing as a female astronaut and the importance of science education. The majority of the conversation will center around questions submitted in advance from NatureBridge students.
Submit your questions here for a chance to have them answered live!
Our Speakers
Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger #
Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger grew up along the Front Range of Colorado. A scholar athlete, she ran cross-country and track and earned her B.A. in Geology from Whitman College. She went on to get a teaching certification from Central Washington University, and she taught earth science and astronomy for five years at Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, WA. In addition to teaching, she coached cross country and Science Olympiad.
In June of 2004, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected her to join the Astronaut Corps. After several years of training, she flew as a mission specialist on the STS-131 crew, an International Space Station (ISS) resupply mission. Dottie served as Mission Specialist 2 (also known as the flight engineer), a robotic arm operator, the Intra-vehicular crew member (the inside coordinator of the spacewalks), and a transfer crew member (helping move six tons of hardware and equipment). The mission lasted fifteen days.
During June of 2012, Dottie commanded the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation (NEEMO) in the Aquarius Reef Habitat off the Florida coast. The 16th underwater mission sought to develop techniques for working at an asteroid, while operating under a 100-second time delay.
In June of 2014, Dottie retired from the Astronaut Corps and returned to the Pacific Northwest with her family. She finished her M.S. in applied geology at the University of Washington, and she currently works as a geologist for Geosyntec Consultants. In her spare time, she enjoys trail running, backpacking and hiking with her family, singing for her church’s choir and playing the guitar. She continues to speak and promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education, and serves on three boards: The Museum of Flight, Challenger Center and NatureBridge.
Megan Ouellette, Alaska Airlines #
Megan leads Alaska Airlines government and community affairs work, having started in the company's Washington, D.C. office in 2005 as Director of Government Affairs. Prior to joining Alaska Airlines, Megan was responsible for air transportation and homeland security issues for a congressional office. An attorney, she previously worked in the law office of Winterbauer & Diamond PLLC, Seattle.
A member of the Washington State Bar Association, Megan earned a Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from Seattle University School of Law. She also studied international and comparative law at Trinity College, Dublin and received a bachelor's degree (cum laude) in political science from the University of Washington.