NSS Space Forum - The Sew Sisters: The Untold Story of NASA Seamstresses, October 12, 2023

The Sew Sisters: The Untold Story of NASA Seamstresses Jean Wright Sew Sister Space Journalist and Photographer USA Aerospace Composite Tech (Retired) The Sew Sisters were a group of 18 NASA seamstresses who were highly skilled professionals who played a critical role in the design, construction and maintenance of the space shuttle’s thermal protection system. Like many of the hundreds of thousands of people who have contributed to space shuttle program, they toiled in anonymity. Yet their skill, dedication, and commitment to quality were essential to ensuring the orbiters and the astronauts were protected from the heat of atmospheric reentry. Watch this space forum to hear from Jean Wright, a member the Sew Sisters, and the untold story of how these amazing seamstresses crafted the space shuttle’s thermal blankets, mostly by hand, with incredible precision and skill. In a conversational format, Jean shares the inspiring story of how she turned her passion for space and sewing into career that contributed to the success of the space shuttle program. Jean also shares stories from her newly released book, “Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA’s Seamstresses.“ Enjoy this fascinating and inspiring space forum that introduces you to a new area of space technology that was previously untold. Jean Wright was an Aerospace Composite Tech for United Space Alliance (USA) - the prime contractor for NASA’s Space Shuttle Processing. As one of 18 women, she and her co-workers, who dubbed their group, “The Sew Sisters,” were responsible for fabrication, assembly, disassembly, installation and repair of Thermal Protection System (TPS) hardware. Jean worked on the Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery space shuttle missions. She also worked on test parachutes and aft-skirt blankets for the Orion spacecraft. Now retired, Jean remains involved with NASA as a docent for the Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center. She is a member of NASA’s Speakers Bureau, representing the organization at civic, professional, educational and public events. Jean educates guests at the KSC Visitor Complex on all things space and does launch support and VIP tours as needed. Jean is currently part of the media, photographing launches as a team member for the space blog, “Space Up-close.” One of the biggest thrills of her life was being asked by Mark Armstrong to cut and prepare for auction, pieces of historic fabric from the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer that his father, Neil Armstrong, carried to the Moon! Today, Jean sews custom face masks and apparel--space themed and otherwise. A hardcover picture book about Jean’s life was published this fall. Entitled “Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA’s Seamstresses” (Tilbury House Publishers October 3, 2023), it is written and illustrated by Elise Matich.