Meir became the first Swedish woman in space when she traveled to the International Space Station in September 2019 in orbit around the earth. She stayed there for 205 days.
– It is a great honor to receive Jessica Meir in Sweden. As the first Swedish woman in space, she has made an important contribution to space research and science, says Anna Rathsman, Director General of the Swedish Space Agency.
The mother of the Swedish-American astronaut has her origins in Västerås.
Aiming at the moon
Jessica Meir is one of 18 astronauts who have now been selected for the American lunar program Artemis. Its goal is to put the next man and the first woman on the moon. The last time an astronaut went to the moon was during the Apollo program in 1972.
– The fact that she has been selected for the Artemis program, with a view to the moon, makes the visit extra interesting considering her future as an astronaut, says Anna Rathsman.
In addition to Västerås, she also visits Gothenburg, Helsingborg, Umeå and Stockholm.