Anna Fisher during her interview at JSC told the Astronaut Selection board she wanted a family

[Christopher Lusardi]

05-12-2019 NASA Astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher

Publisher: ΚΥΠΕ

Published: Dec 5, 2019

I always knew that I wanted a career. And, I always knew that I wanted a family.

So, there was never. In fact, when I interviewed with the astronaut selection board. As we were coming towards the end of the interview. And, I said oh and by the way just so you should know if it affects your decision. I do want to have a family.

And (you know) nowadays, it's illegal in the United States (for the interviewer) to ask that question. You know.

But, it was very important to me. I didn't plan it to be exactly the way it happened. I was assigned to my flight two weeks before I delivered my daughter.

I had her on a Friday morning. And, I was back at the 8 o'clock meeting on Monday morning. Because I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to say. You know. I know I've just become a new mom. But, I'm here. And, I'm not going anywhere. I made this commitment. And, it means a lot to me.

I'm not saying it was easy. It was difficult. It was really hard to leave her, not knowing a 100% that you're going to come back.

But, it's really not that different from many other young parents today, male and female. You know. So, many folks in the military now, young women and men, (you know) are being deployed for a year at a time. And, they're away from their family.

So, there's not really an easy answer. Even today with all of our technology and everything, it's still a very hard very personal decision. And, I was very lucky that I had a very wonderful lady who took care of Kristin until she went to school. And, my mom came the last six weeks which really helped a lot. It just totally (you know) took my mind off of that Kristen was being well taken care of.

But, there's no easy answers. You know. But, the one thing my daughter has said which makes me very proud is she said. When she's in. My daughter's in broadcast journalism working for Fox News.

And, when she's asked questions. She said, it never even occurred to her that she couldn't have a demanding career and have a family. Because my mom did it.

And so, and I told her when she travels a lot. I said do not feel guilty. You know. You have a right to be happy as well and to lead a fulfilling life. And, if your goal is to do something demanding, well, you just figure out a way to make it work.

I think there's lots of different people. And, everybody has different needs. I did take a seven-year leave of absence after my second daughter was born. Because I really felt that I needed to be home with both of them. 

And then after that seven years, I came back to NASA. And, I'll have to say that was the hardest thing I've ever done, coming back after being away for seven years. But, I think I brought a perspective back to the astronaut office. Because I was the only person left who had been there when before the shuttle flew. And now, we were working on the space station. And a lot of the people that were in the office then were used to the program running very smoothly by that time.

At the beginning of a program, it's not like that. There's a lot of things you're learning. The training isn't in good condition. The procedures are immature. And so, having me there having seen that already at the beginning of the shuttle program, I think was beneficial to the office.

So, I think it was a win-win situation for me and for the astronaut office. But, there's no easy answers for how to juggle having a family, and every situation is different. You know. If you have a child that's not healthy for example or has had a problem. Thankfully, Kristin was well. And, you know that adds another complexity. So, every situation is different. But, I also feel that if you are happy with your life and what you're doing you're a better parent.

And so, I feel very blessed that (you know) that year that I was training for my flight. I was doing the two things I love most in the world. You know being a mom and being an astronaut.

Link to video

[Christopher Lusardi]

Anne Diamond Interviews Dr. Anna Fisher: NASA Astronaut & Viking Godmother
Publisher: Viking.TV
Published: July 23, 2025

Her application and her essay on why she wanted to be an astronaut which was a group assignment given to her group during the week-long NASA interview to become an astronaut. She wrote it in a hotel at night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qda4uzemapc&t=923s