Pittsburgh astronaut inspires students during historic commercial spacewalk

On a historic day for space exploration, the first-ever commercial spacewalk took place, conducted by tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis as part of the Polaris Dawn mission. This mission has already set records by traveling farther into space than any human since the Apollo program ended over 50 years ago. The event coincided with a visit from Pittsburgh astronaut Mike Fincke, who spoke to nearly 200 high school students at the Community College of Allegheny County. Fincke, a veteran of nine spacewalks, shared his experiences and emphasized the growing opportunities in the space industry. He encouraged students, particularly those from Pittsburgh, to pursue careers in space exploration, highlighting that the industry is booming and in need of new talent. His message resonated with students like Shane Rooney, a freshman at Mt. Lebanon High School, who expressed his long-held dream of going to space. The American space program aims to make space accessible to everyday people, allowing them to participate in activities like spacewalks and scientific research. Fincke's visit served as an inspiration for young people, showing them that their dreams of space travel could become a reality. He pointed out that the evolving space industry could create high-tech job opportunities in places like Pittsburgh. As the space sector continues to expand, the hope is that more young individuals will be encouraged to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), ultimately leading to a new generation of space explorers and innovators.