about me

Hello! My name is Joalda Morancy (they/them/theirs), and I am currently an Aerospace Systems Engineer at Blue Origin. I recently graduated with my degree in Astrophysics from the University of Chicago, and am pursuing a graduate degree in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines.

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I am heavily interested in planetary science, human spaceflight engineering, and aerospace policy. I'm working to combine some of my interests through learning more about the field of Space Resources and in-situ resource utilization, a topic that is at its genesis in the aerospace world. Understanding material extraction and how to build an economy out of it will be crucial to expanding our presence in the solar system and helping humans live among the planets. I also want to know how we can ethically go about these processes and what future regulations and government structures may look like on other celestial bodies.

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Even though I have always loved science as a young kid, space is something I became interested as a sophomore in high school. It was this simple video of astronaut Chris Hadfield making a sandwich on the International Space Station that kickstarted everything, and I have been hooked ever since. I'm hoping that one day, my life can lead to me exploring neighboring worlds and new environments.

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I also am passionate about doing science communication with the general public, especially with younger kids. Coming from a marginalized background has inspired me to help those with similar stories who are interested in STEM and find ways to help them excel in this field.