Reaching for the Stars with Dr. Erika Hamden: Curiosity, Failure, and the Future of Space Exploration

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia sits down with Dr. Erika Hamden, an astrophysicist and NASA mission leader whose work is expanding our view of the universe. From growing up curious about the night sky to building cutting-edge balloon and space telescopes like FIREBall-2 and Eos, Dr. Hamden shares how she’s turned imagination into discovery.They talk about the challenges of leading large research teams, what happens when missions fail, and how programs like NASA’s PI Launchpad are shaping the next generation of space explorers. Dr. Hamden also opens up about her journey from chef to scientist, the making of her new book Weird Universe, and the importance of making science accessible to everyone.