Scientist who cleaned space toilet on work now leading Mars exploration

4 hours ago

Claire Parfitt's career in space exploration began with cleaning a space toilet during work experience at age 14 at the National Space Centre in Leicester.
She now leads a team at the European Space Agency's European Space Research and Technology Centre, planning future human and robotic Mars missions.
Parfitt holds a physics degree and PhD in spacecraft power systems engineering and has worked on missions like ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover and SMILE.
Her early inspiration came from supportive science teachers and seeing a female director at the Space Centre, which helped shape her career path.
She chairs the International Mars Exploration Working Group and emphasizes the scientific importance of exploring Mars while planning carefully for future missions.

Hasty Briefsbeta