"When you're outside in the vacuum of space it's just that visor between you and space. As you're hanging on to the space station by a tether and looking down at planet earth, it's absolutely incredible."

Aunapu Mann is once again stationed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and is tasked with supporting spacewalks for the International Space Station, performing robotics work and helping with the development of new space suits.

Is a moon landing next?

Aunapu Mann is also playing an integral role in the development of the Artemis program, which is intended to reestablish a human presence on the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 landing in 1972. The program's stated long-term goal is to establish a permanent base on the moon to facilitate human missions to Mars.

"We're going back to the moon through the Artemis program, so we're testing new space suits and new spacecraft, developing landers and creating habitats for the moon. It's a very exciting time," said Aunapu Mann, who hopes to join the elite list of astronauts who have stepped on the moon.

Being an astronaut is glamorous, but it's also dangerous. The Naval Academy has produced more astronauts than any college institution with Aunapu Mann becoming the 54th. Among them is Willie McCool, who was pilot of the space shuttle Columbia mission that disintegrated upon reentry into the atmosphere, killing the entire crew.

Aunapu Mann acknowledged that her chosen profession "is not without risks" and said astronauts "don't take that lightly." She said it's important to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice and for NASA to learn from past mistakes.

"We have to hold those very tight no matter how painful it is because we don't want to repeat those mistakes and lose another crew member. We do think about it and talk about it quite often," Aunapu Mann said. "There's a huge team at NASA that is trying to make space exploration as safe as possible, but at the end of the day you are strapped to a rocket and you are leaving the planet. It is dangerous and you have to explain that to your parents, your spouse and your children."

Aunapu Mann recently received significant recognition as she was among six former student-athletes to receive the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award. It honors former student-athletes for their outstanding athletic and professional achievements in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their collegiate careers.

"It was definitely a tremendous honor and a real privilege to meet the other awardees, many of whom I have heard of and have done some incredible things," Aunapu Mann said.

Aunapu Mann returned to Annapolis this past fall to spend three days at the academy and spoke to the Navy women's soccer team at that time. Gabarra calls her famous former player "an incredibly down-to-earth and humble person who is extremely well-rounded."

Former teammate Anne Kipp Klokaw exchanged emails with Aunapu Mann while the latter was living and working aboard the International Space Station. Aunapu Mann had to exercise while in orbit and wanted a goal to work toward, so she and Kipp Klokaw agreed do the Ragnar Trail Run in Zion National Park last spring.

Kipp Klokaw said every member of the Navy women's soccer program from 1995-98 is "immensely proud" of what their former teammate has achieved. Aunapu Mann credits college athletics with helping her reach the rarified air of astronaut.

"There are so many similarities between the team I'm on now and the Navy women's soccer team I was part of for four years. As a college athlete, I didn't realize how powerful that was going to be," she said.

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