Megan McArthur: 5 Things To Know About The Astronaut Aboard SpaceX’s Latest Rocket Launch

Megan McArthur is one of four crew members of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that launched on Friday, April 23, for a six-month stay in space! Learn more about the astronaut.

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April 23, 2021 9:15AM EDT
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From left to right, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet pose for a photo after arriving at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of SpaceX's Crew-2 mission, on Friday, April 16, 2021, in Florida. NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission is the second operational mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Kimbrough, McArthur, Pesquet, and Hoshide are scheduled to launch at 6:11 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 22, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. NASA and SpaceX Prepare for the Launch of Crew-2 Mission, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA - 17 Apr 2021
NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur smiles as she stops to greet her family as she walks out from the O&C Building at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Friday, April 23, 2021. McArthur is assigned as Pilot for the second operational mission to the International Space Station NASA crew-2 walks out for launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA - 23 Apr 2021
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide onboard, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Space X Crew Launch, Cape Canaveral, United States - 23 Apr 2021
Image Credit: Shutterstock

In the early morning hours of April 23, NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center was aglow, as the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off into outer space for a six-month stay. Aboard the rocket was NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, who was also joined by fellow NASA team member Shane Kimbrough, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, and Akihiko Hoshide from Japan. The crew will stay six months at the International Space Station, once their Crew Dragon capsule docks there early Saturday morning, per CNN. Learn more about Astronaut McArthur!

Megan McArthur Is An Astronaut With NASA

McArthur, born Katherine Megan McArthur, was chosen as an astronaut in the class of 2000, per NASA‘s official site. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles as well as her Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of California, San Diego. While working toward her Ph.D., McArthur conducted research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Megan McArthur Has Served On A Previous Mission

In 2009, McArthur served as the Mission Specialist on the STS-125, the final space shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, per NASA. Because of McArthur’s work with her team on this mission, the Hubble Space Telescope is still in operation! Overall, McArthur has logged roughly 13 days in space, and she’ll definitely be adding to it with her latest mission to the International Space Station!

From left to right, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-2 mission launch, on Friday, April 23, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida [Shutterstock].

Megan McArthur Is A Self-Professed Bookworm

It’s very rare that McArthur goes anywhere at all without a book, as she revealed in a Twitter video she shared to her account on April 22, just before her recent mission. “I love books,” she said in the video. “No matter where I go, I just about always have a book with me,” she shared with her more than 27K followers. McArthur definitely intends to continue reading while aboard the ISS, and promised her Twitter followers that, “the next time I read a book for you guys, I will be floating on the [International Space Station].” Watch her video here!

NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur smiles as she stops to greet her family as she walks out from the O&C Building at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Friday, April 23, 2021 [Shutterstock].

Megan McArthur Created Her Own Playlist For ‘Launch Day’

Although she doesn’t post excessively on social media, she did share her “Launch Day Playlist” to her Instagram account on April 22, and McArthur has some out-of-this-world taste in music! Among the tunes that she compiled to get into the right frame of mind for her April 23 launch, some included “Waiting” by Green Day, “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay, and “Learn To Fly” by The Foo Fighters! “If you want to rock out with me tomorrow while we’re driving out to our launch pad, here’s what I’ll be playing,” McArthur captioned her Instagram post.

Megan McArthur Is Married To A Fellow Astronaut

McArthur is married to Bob Behnken. The couple wed in McArthur’s home state of Hawaii and have one son together named Theo. Bob was a part of the historic SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in May 2020!