Sian Cleaver, a spacecraft engineer from Chelmsford, Essex, is playing a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis II mission, a landmark endeavor set to send astronauts around the Moon. Her journey, however, isn’t just about rockets and propulsion systems. it’s a story of defying expectations and pursuing a passion for space exploration, even in the face of societal stereotypes. Cleaver’s work centers on the European Service Module, a critical component built by Airbus in Germany, which will provide power, propulsion, and life support for the Orion spacecraft and its crew.
For Cleaver, the dream of working in the space industry began early, fostered by a supportive educational environment. She credits her all-girls school with nurturing her interest in physics and astronomy, a space where her ambitions were never questioned. Now, at 36, she’s not only realizing that dream but actively working to ensure that future generations of girls and women have the same opportunities. The Artemis II mission, currently slated for a launch window in early April after a February delay due to a technical issue discovered during pre-flight testing, represents a significant step towards returning humans to the lunar surface and, to Mars.
Cleaver currently serves as the industrial manager for Orion’s European Service Module at Airbus, ensuring the timely integration of its complex components. Previously, she was the scheduler for the assembly, integration, and testing of the service module for Artemis II, which recently arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The European Service Module is a powerhouse of technology, featuring large solar arrays that will power the spacecraft throughout its 10-day mission, bringing the crew closer to the Moon than anyone has been since 1972.
But Cleaver’s commitment extends beyond the technical challenges of spaceflight. She actively challenges the barriers that discourage women from entering STEM fields. “I don’t think stereotypes like that have ever bothered me,” she said, referring to the historically negative “Essex girl” stereotype, which until 2020 was defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “unintelligent, promiscuous, and materialistic.” She added, “I’ve never worried about sticking to particularly girlie things.” This resilience and self-assurance stem from a childhood where her aspirations were consistently encouraged.
The Importance of Representation in STEM
Cleaver’s experiences have fueled her passion for inspiring the next generation of female scientists and engineers. She recognizes the lack of visible role models as a significant obstacle. “There’s definitely not enough role models, particularly at higher levels,” she noted. To address this, she regularly delivers talks at schools, emphasizing that careers in STEM are accessible to everyone, regardless of gender. According to Women in Tech, women currently represent only 25% of the 9.4 million people working in STEM across the UK. Women in Tech
The Artemis II crew, which includes Christina Koch, will orbit the Moon, paving the way for future missions that aim to land the first woman on the lunar surface. NASA highlights the importance of the European Service Module in enabling these ambitious goals. Cleaver expressed her excitement about this prospect, stating, “I want to spot the first woman walk on the moon. Artemis II will see a woman orbit the moon.”
Cleaver acknowledges that while women are contributing to the Artemis program, they remain a minority within the engineering teams. “Diversity brings different perspectives and a different way of working and it’s a real shame that This proves not so visible,” she explained. She feels a sense of responsibility to pave the way for others, but as well recognizes the need for a broader shift in representation at all levels of the industry. Her own journey, from a physics student at Durham University to a key engineer on a groundbreaking NASA mission, serves as a powerful example of what’s possible when ambition is met with opportunity.
The return to the Moon, Cleaver believes, is a moment of historical significance, particularly for a generation that has not witnessed a lunar landing firsthand. “The fact that we are going back to the moon, there is a whole generation of people on this planet who haven’t lived through a moon landing and we are about to live that again,” she said. She views her involvement in the Artemis II mission as a privilege, contributing to a new chapter in space exploration.
As the Artemis II mission moves closer to its revised launch date, the work of engineers like Sian Cleaver underscores the importance of both technical innovation and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The success of these missions, and the future of space exploration, will depend on inspiring and empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to reach for the stars.
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