Two NASA employees, Katie Konans and Clare Luckey, have been named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Class of 2024. Konans, NASA's audio and podcasting lead at Goddard Space Flight Center, was recognized for revolutionizing NASA's digital strategy through audio communication. Luckey is a systems engineer at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Konans manages five active podcasts, including "NASA's Curious Universe," which has garnered over 8 million episode plays on Apple Podcasts alone. Her efforts have expanded NASA's reach in the digital audio space, resulting in millions of downloads worldwide.
Separately, Howard Chang, Assistant Chief Counsel at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and Bradley Williams, Acting Associate Director for Flight, Heliophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate, were named as two of the "20 Under 35 of 2024" by the Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI). This award acknowledges outstanding young professionals in the space industry.
Chang serves as the lead attorney for NASA's Wallops Flight Facility's commercial, nonprofit, and interagency partnerships. Williams oversees more than a dozen missions in operations and development within the Heliophysics Division.
Both recognitions highlight NASA's commitment to fostering young talent and innovation within the space sector, contributing to advancements in space exploration and communication.