July 01

Born in 1875, Quimby began her career as a journalist before pursuing aviation. In August 1911, she earned her pilot's license, becoming the first American woman to do so. She made headlines again on April 16, 1912, as the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. Alongside her flying feats, she wrote screenplays for the British and American Biograph film companies. Tragically, she died later in 1912 in a plane crash during an airshow in California. Quimby's pioneering achievements paved the way for future generations of female aviators.

Alan G. Poindexter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 and became a distinguished Naval aviator and test pilot. Selected by NASA in 1998, he flew on STS-122 in 2008, delivering the Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station, and on STS-131 in 2010. As commander, he led crews through complex spacewalks and scientific experiments. Poindexter logged over 600 hours in space. After retiring from NASA, he served as a senior advisor in aerospace operations. He was known for his leadership, calm under pressure, and dedication to exploration before his untimely death in a jet ski accident in 2012.