Laura Stiles: From Trainer to Astronaut in 48 Hours
From In Her Orbit by Shawn Linam
April 9, 2026 · 33 min
About this episode
Laura Stiles shares her journey from engineering physics to becoming a Blue Origin astronaut.
Join us for a conversation with Laura Stiles, Director of New Shepard Flight Operations at Blue Origin and a newly minted Blue Origin astronaut, to explore her journey from studying engineering physics to launching to space. Laura shares how an early NASA internship sparked her passion for aerospace, how she found her place in the industry through different roles at Blue Origin, and what it’s like to train commercial astronauts. We also dive into her last-minute selection to be a crew member ...
People in this episode
Host: Shawn Linam
Guest: Laura Stiles
Topics covered
- aerospace
- space travel
- engineering
- career journey
- commercial astronauts
Keywords
- astronaut
- Blue Origin
- NASA internship
- aerospace industry
- commercial spaceflight
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Blue Origin, NASA
Books & works: New Shepard Flight Operations
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