By Vanessa Lenz
SLN Staff
Ever since she saw a space shuttle launch as a small child, East Troy native Julie Mason knew she wanted to be an astronaut one day.
So when she heard about the Axe Apollo Space Academy online contest, Mason was quick to enter.
“Space exploration enables discovery,” she said. “I entered in the name of science.”
The company, known for its popular and uniquely named male-centric grooming products, has recruited real life astronaut Buzz Aldrin to promote the competition, where winners will be sent into space. Axe unveiled the campaign at the beginning of the year in 60 countries.
Mason got on board by creating a profile explaining why she should get to go to space and is now trying to spread the word to get people to vote for her.
Those who make it to the top tier will compete for the national championship title. Two United States winners will advance to Florida to battle against winners from across the globe at Axe Space Camp for one of 22 tickets to travel 103 kilometers into actual outer space through the space tourism company SpaceXC.
“When astronauts look back at Earth, the sight of home is a visual symbol that we are one planet without borders or country divisions,” Mason said. “The AXE Apollo Space Academy brings together 22 people from around the world, and all of them have a passion for space. Many countries came together to build the International Space Station. It’s my hope that we can come together again to go to Mars or even an asteroid.”
The contest just might make Mason’s lifelong dream come true.
Mason’s passion for science, engineering, and space exploration started when her parents took her to Cape Canaveral, Fla. when she was 9 years old to watch the Space Shuttle STS-90 launch.
“I went to Space Camp in eighth grade and knew exactly what I wanted to do – become an astronaut. I want to conduct science in space (i.e. the Moon, Mars asteroids, or the International Space Station), and I’d like to help enable space travel for others by helping to develop technology that will enable NASA to do so,” Mason said.
Last spring, Mason got to live one of her dreams defying gravity at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
She was among six UW-Madison students who spent a week in late April conducting experiments in reduced and zero gravity situations as part of the NASA Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in engineering mechanics and astronautics last May, Mason went on to study at the International Space University at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Now she is working at Marshall Space Flight Center in Hunstville, Ala. to design NASA’s newest largest rocket, the Space Launch System.
“SLS will take astronauts to deep space – the moon, Mars or an asteroid. The first test launch of the core stage (which I’m working on) is scheduled for 2017,” she said.
Mason is also a part-time student working toward her master’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
“My newfound Alabama hobbies include learning to fly a Cessna 172 and volunteering at Space Camp in the scuba tank,” she said.
East Troy roots
At press time Mason is ranked 38th in the Axe contest and has received a strong showing of support from people back home.
“I cannot describe how honored I am by the support that I have received from friends, family, former teachers and local East Troy businesses, such as Martin’s Hardware-Rental & Pet,” Mason said. “ If I do not win the Axe competition, I know that I have a community behind me that will continue to launch me toward my dreams.”
If she wins, Mason is hoping Axe will let her design and conduct her own microgravity experiment to run aboard the spacecraft.
“The competition is a promotional campaign for Axe, but why not promote science at the same time?” she said.
“Prior to the space flight, the space academy provides training to the participants. This includes g-force training in a centrifuge, training in a fighter jet, and training aboard the Zero G Corporation aircraft. Since my dream is to be an astronaut, I hope that I will learn how to train and better understand how to strengthen my application for the NASA astronaut corps.”
Mason still has a way to go to reach the top tier.
“In order to win, I need the support of 50,000 people with Facebook who are willing to vote for me to send a small-town girl from Wisconsin to space,” Mason said. I think it’s doable, if everyone who votes convinces 10 friends to vote and pass the link on to 10 more friends.”
Mason said the person who wins the trip to space will have a great story that can be used to inspire younger generations of explorers.
“I’ve always considered outreach to high schools and elementary schools in Wisconsin a priority. Last year I helped Matt Heer’s advanced physics students at East Troy High School in Wisconsin design and build a microgravity experiment,” she said. “Without the Space Shuttle Program and the awe-inspiring capabilities of witnessing a shuttle launch, it’s important to reach out to young engineers who will guide the future of space exploration and technology.”
Vote for Julie
Voting for the contest runs through midnight on April 27. To vote visit: https://www2.axeapollo.com/en_US/54222/julie-mason?image=0
