An Astrophysics Ph.D. student at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration and an aspiring astronaut, Hailey Nelson focuses her research on the relationship between stellar composition and the habitability of Earth-like exoplanets.

Serving as Crew Scientist for SEA I-THALASSA mission, Hailey oversees the coordination, documentation, and execution of research projects in the analog habitat while training in extreme environment scenarios. Beyond her technical research, she is a dedicated science communicator with a goal in informing diverse communities about space! Hailey has created interactive museum exhibits, presented planetarium shows, and led international STEM initiatives (such as teaching astrophysics workshops in Guanajuato, Mexico) to make space exploration accessible to communities worldwide.