Nicole Stott Spent 104 Days in Space. But Never Planned to be an Astronaut

Nicole Stott has spent her life exploring.

A former NASA astronaut, aerospace engineer, artist, author and OMEGA ambassador, Nicole has completed two spaceflights, a spacewalk, spent 104 days living aboard the International Space Station and even trained by living underwater for nearly three weeks in NASA's Aquarius habitat.

But Nicole's journey into space began much closer to Earth.

After losing her father in a small plane crash as a child, she became fascinated by flying, engineering and understanding how things work. That curiosity eventually led her to NASA, where she spent more than a decade working as an engineer before being selected as an astronaut.

In this episode, Helen Smith sits down with Nicole for a conversation about curiosity, resilience, creativity, teamwork and the perspective-shifting experience of seeing Earth from space.

Nicole reflects on the moment she first looked out the window of the International Space Station, why astronauts train underwater, the psychological realities of living in extreme environments, and how viewing Earth from orbit changed the way she thinks about humanity.

She also shares why she believes creativity and science belong together, how she became the first person to create a watercolor painting in space, and why that experience eventually inspired her to launch the Space for Art Foundation, helping children in hospitals, refugee centres and vulnerable communities use art as a tool for connection and hope.

At its heart, this is a conversation about perspective and the belief that we're all connected by the same thin blue line of atmosphere surrounding our planet.

This episode covers:

Nicole's childhood and early fascination with flying
The impact of losing her father in a plane crash
Following a path from engineering to NASA
Becoming an astronaut after working behind the scenes at NASA
Living underwater as preparation for spaceflight
Teamwork and leadership in extreme environments
The "Here's How We Can" mindset
Life aboard the International Space Station
What it feels like to see Earth from space for the first time
Why astronauts become obsessed with watching Earth from the window
Experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets every day
Painting the first watercolor in space
Why creativity and science belong together
The role of art in wellbeing and human connection
Founding the Space for Art Foundation
Working with children in hospitals, refugee centres and vulnerable communities
The importance of curiosity throughout life
The future of commercial space exploration and returning to the Moon, plus the journey to Mars
Why Nicole believes we're all crewmates on a planetary spaceship