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Title:
NASAs Sew Sister Seamstress Saving Astronauts Lives
Topic:
Needles to Nebula: The Unknown Story of NASA's Sew Sister Seamstress Saving Astronauts' Lives
Date and Time:
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, starting at 19:00 Eastern Daylight Time Download Calendar File
Speaker(s):
Jean Wright
Brief Description:

Jean Wright will talk about the the elite NASA team of ‘Sew Sister’ Seamstresses sewing flight hardware as a NASA Aerospace Composite Tech for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program at the Kennedy Space Center as part of the thermal protection systems (TPS) that helped protect the astronauts lives from deadly radiation and scorching Earth re-entry heats, and bring them home safely.

Jean will talk about the space suits, the process for fabrication, assembly, disassembly, installation and repair of Thermal PRotection System (TPS) hardware and blankets to protect the shuttle and astronauts lives from deadly/perilous reentry heats and radiation.

In addition to space suits, the team also did the hand stitching for many areas of the shuttle orbiter. This involved detailed measurements, heavy-duty industrial machines, and intricate and physically demanding hand stitching.

Select Number:
SO15139719
Location of Seminar:
Vero Beach Airport, EAA Chapter 99 Meeting Room
2801 Flight Safety Drive

Vero Beach, FL 32960
Directions to Venue:

Use this street address in your navigation system:
"2801 Flight Safety Drive, Vero Beach FL"
Look for the building with the red and blue shades. Just south of it is the gate to the T-hangars with our meeting room being straight ahead.

Click image to see an enlarged version.

 


Fly-in Seminar?:
Yes  KVRB
Seating:
30 seats at the facility, 23 remaining for online registration.
Registration Information:
Seminar has passed.
Sponsoring Division:
FAASTeam
Contact Information:
Raul Salazar
Phone: (954) 214-1885
raulasalazar@gmail.com
Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s):

Jean Wright was a NASA Aerospace Composite Tech for United Space Alliance-the prime contractor for NASA’s Space Shuttle Processing. As one of 18 women in this critical role, 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 and blankets to protect the shuttle and the astronauts lives from deadly/perilous reentry heats and radiation.

This involved using detailed measurements, heavy-duty industrial sewing machines, and intricate and physically demanding hand stitching which covered many areas of the shuttle orbiter.

Jean is currently promoting an award-winning new children’s book about her work as a Thermal Protection System Technician for NASA’s space shuttle fleet titled, “Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA’s Seamstresses.”  Superbly written and beautifully illustrated by Elise Matich, whom Jean met as a Docent at the space shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the KSC Visitor Complex.

Jean was recently awarded the prestigious ”Women in American History Award” – from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Nov. 2024 during a ceremony held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

She served as a Docent at the Kennedy Space Center, KSC Visitor Complex & Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit.  Jean also did launch support, outreach events and VIP Tours at KSC and KSCVC as needed - including former NASA Administrators Bill Nelson, Jim Bridenstine and other high-level NASA and industry officials and visitors.

The Treasure Coast FAASteam and the EAA Chapter 99 gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Mrs Jean Wright for this presentation at the EAA Chapter 99 located on the grounds of the Vero Beach Airport.

The Treasure Coast FAASTeam gratefully acknowledges the generous support and relationship of EAA Chapter 99 of the Vero Beach Airport for providing the use of a conference room and media.

If you are not currently an FAASafety.gov user, simply register your name and valid email address at the time of the event and your information will be processed through www.faasafety.gov.  You will then receive an email requesting you to go the web site and finish setting up your user account. With the new Quick WINGS process, you'll soon be earning even more valuable education points towards your next Flight Review.

Equal Access Information:
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is committed to providing equal access to this meeting/event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, please communicate your request as soon as possible with the person in the “Contact Information” area of the meeting/event notice. Note that two weeks is usually required to arrange services.
Credit Applicability:
FAASTeam Project Information:
NPP13, et al
National Project:
Any Safety Event held based upon data/risk
Additional Event Documents: