‘I want to see the first African woman in space’: the Kenyan stargazer bringing astronomy to the people

Kenyan astronomer Susan Murabana runs a social enterprise to educate children in rural communities.

The Travelling Telescope aims to inspire a love of science and astronomy among young people, particularly girls.

She estimates that she has shown the wonders of the night sky to 400,000 people since the launch of the Travelling telescope.

In 2021 , Murabana was selected as a Space4Women mentor, a UN programme that pairs women in the space sector with young girls aspiring to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Murabana looked to Dr Mae Jemison , a former Nasa astronaut and the first black woman in space, as a role model when she was studying astronomy. Now she hopes her own work will inspire a generation of female African space scientists. “I hope that one day , through this work, I will spark a chain reaction that leads to the first African woman in space.”.