Breaking the Essex Girl Stereotype
Sian Cleaver has stated that the stereotype of the "Essex girl" has never hindered her pursuit of becoming an astronaut and contributing to a spacecraft designed to take humans to the moon.
The 36-year-old engineer from Chelmsford, Essex, is employed as a spacecraft engineer at Airbus in Germany. Airbus developed the propulsion system for the Orion spacecraft, which is part of NASA's Artemis II mission.
Until 2020, the Oxford Dictionary defined an "Essex girl" as an "unintelligent, promiscuous and materialistic" young woman.
"I don't think stereotypes like that have ever bothered me. I've never worried about sticking to particularly girlie things," Cleaver said.
"I don't think I've ever been bothered by the trends because I've been so far removed from it," she added.
Cleaver's interest in astronomy began during her time at Chelmsford County High School. She later pursued physics at Durham University.
She encourages young girls and women to disregard stereotypes and pursue their aspirations.
"If you've got big ambitions and it feels like people are bogging you down, just go for it anyway.
"I always wanted to be an astronaut and that is always what inspired me and gave me drive and I still have that dream," she said.
Artemis II Mission Update
The Artemis II mission was initially scheduled for launch in February. However, a technical issue discovered during a pre-test flight caused a delay, with the next possible launch dates now in early April.
Four astronauts, including Christina Koch, will pilot the spacecraft on a 10-day mission orbiting the Moon. This mission aims to bring humans closer to the lunar surface than they have been since 1972.
Koch has expressed her inspiration to become an astronaut after seeing a photograph of Earth taken by Bill Anders, a crew member of the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.
Cleaver commented on the mission's significance for women in space exploration.
"I want to see the first woman walk on the moon. Artemis II will see a woman orbit the moon."
Diversity and Representation in Space Engineering
The Artemis II crew will travel to the Moon powered by the European Service Module, which includes large solar arrays manufactured by Cleaver and her team in Bremen.
Cleaver noted that while women are involved in the project, they remain a minority.
"Diversity brings different perspectives and a different way of working and it's a real shame that it is not so visible," she said.
She regularly gives talks at schools to provide younger generations with visible examples of women in engineering roles.
"It's good for younger people to see women doing jobs like mine. So that when they start thinking of these jobs in the future they don't automatically picture a man doing them."
"There's definitely not enough role models, particularly at higher levels," she added.
According to Women in Tech, over 9.4 million people work in STEM fields across the UK, with women representing 25% of this workforce.
Cleaver remains passionate about space and acknowledges the challenges she faces.
"I am still super excited and passionate about space and that is what gives me the drive.
"It feels like I have to push and fight extra hard compared to some of my peers and that has always frustrated me.
"I feel like a weighted responsibility because I feel like there are younger women who are looking up to me, but I wish there was more that I can look up to as well."
She reflected on the historical significance of the Artemis program.
"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.
"I do feel very privileged to be part of making history."
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