SARAH KESSANS: PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH

As a child, Sarah Kessans loved exploring nature at her farm in Southern Indiana. Today, her passion for discovery has taken her far beyond the fields she once explored - straight into space. We caught up with this leading microgravity researcher to learn more about her path, the challenges she’s overcome, and the incredible potential of space-based research.

Sarah Kessans is working at the cutting edge of microgravity research. Right now, her work is orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station. But her story has a humble beginning at a farm in Southern Indiana. Growing up surrounded by fields and forests, Sarah’s early curiosity was sparked by nature’s wonders, and further nurtured by an inspiring science teacher who introduced her to research.

From there, Sarah’s academic journey took off. She earned degrees in plant and molecular biology from Purdue University and Arizona State University, and later completed a PhD in which she developed a plant-based HIV vaccine candidate through genetic engineering. After years of research in Arizona, she sought a change and found herself in New Zealand, where she joined the University of Canterbury - initially doing research in biology, and now lecturing in the School of Product Design. Her career history is rich, to say the least, and it’d be easy to spend hours listening to her stories

But it’s her current work that’s especially fascinating - and the journey that led her there is equally compelling.

It all started when a friend working for NASA mentioned they were recruiting the next class of astronauts. Sarah’s interest was immediately piqued - “I thought it would be the most amazing career ever,” she says. Sarah applied - alongside 18,000 others - and made it to the top 50 candidates in a competitive selection process. While she didn’t make the final cut, Sarah sees the experience as invaluable.

It’s an important reminder for all in the resilience required to thrive in STEM fields. “The norm is rejection. 90% of the things you apply for you won’t get - whether that’s jobs, funding - you won’t get ” She doesn’t see that as a negative - in her mind, every setback is a learning opportunity. “You have to believe in yourself, continue aiming high, and develop resilience for eventual success Aim high, and believe you can still do great things.”

In Sarah’s case, this experience changed her perspective on the value of space research, and triggered a shift in her focus. Soon, a career-changing opportunity presented itself in the form of $10 million in Government funding for Sarah to build bioengineering facilities in space for research in microgravity.

“It was the beginning of the industry,” Sarah says. “The possibilities in space research are incredible - there’s science, physics, and all sorts of other amazing research that can only be done in microgravity.”

That’s where her focus is now - microgravity. The nearweightlessness of microgravity offers unparalleled opportunities to advance science research. Sarah is particularly passionate about using microgravity to grow essential resources - like food, fuel, and pharmaceuticals.

This research could have profound impacts on society back on Earth, particularly in developing more effective medicines, foods, and vaccines by acquiring data that is otherwise inaccessible in Earth’s environment.

Sarah may now be one of New Zealand’s leading figures in the emerging space sector - but she’s candid in admitting “none of us know what we’re doing.” It’s a refreshing admission from someone at the top of their field - and she has valuable advice for anyone keen to follow in similar footsteps.

“You have to ask questions - don’t be afraid. People really do want to help. There are so many female leaders who want the younger generation to succeed. But you have to research and ask for help, ask for mentorship - no one can help if they don’t know.”

She knows firsthand the power of mentorship, support, and community - and she’s paying it forward now through her involvement in Women in Space New Zealand, an organisation encouraging young women to explore opportunities in aerospace.

“We’ve been working hard to show girls that women are already doing incredible things in aerospace here in New Zealand. We’ve made progress, but there’s still so much more to do.”

Collaboration is a central theme in Sarah’s story. She credits the support of her female colleagues for helping her throughout her career. “Develop a support network - a team of people that have your back. They will help you through.”

That sense of teamwork extends to her current focus: advancing the field of microgravity. “Microgravity is an incredible sector - it’s growing rapidly, has significant economic value, and New Zealand is leading the way.”

Looking ahead, Sarah is driven by an ambitious goal. “I want to help create a world-leading research center,” she says. Based on what she’s unlocked so far, we can only imagine what’s possible for Sarah, and all those who work alongside her.

SARAH’S ADVICE FOR YOUNG WOMEN INTERESTED IN STEM:

“Find something that you’re passionate about, and follow it to your hearts content Remember your big picture and what excites and inspires you - that will get you through both the wins and the challenges.”