Nicole Stott
Retired NASA astronaut, engineer and artist
- Category
- Astronaut
- Nationality
- American
- Classification
- Professional astronaut, NASA (retired)
- Recognition status
- Recognized
- Date of recognition
- October 17, 2026
- Most recent review
- October 17, 2026
Why this person is recognized
What Nicole has actually done
Recognition rests on documented conduct. Each example below records what happened, when, the principle it demonstrates, and the sources our editors reviewed, with an honest assessment of how strong that evidence is.
- 1
Co-led the Space Suit Art Project with pediatric cancer patients from its 2016 launch
The Space Suit Art Project launched on July 8, 2016 at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Patients, families and staff painted fabric pieces that ILC Dover stitched into full-size replica spacesuits; the first suit, Hope, was made from more than 600 pieces, and the second, Courage, was worn aboard the International Space Station by astronaut Kate Rubins in 2016. MD Anderson's announcement names Stott as co-leading the project with Ian Cion of its Arts in Medicine Program and David Graziosi of ILC Dover.
Principle demonstrated: Compassion and hands-on service to seriously ill children
Supporting evidence
- MD Anderson, NASA and ILC Dover partner on Space Suit Art Project to increase childhood cancer awareness
(paraphrase) The release says Stott, described as a retired NASA astronaut and the first person to paint in space, co-led the Space Suit Art Project with Ian Cion, director of MD Anderson's Arts in Medicine Program, and David Graziosi of ILC Dover; the first suit, HOPE, was made from more than 600 hand-painted pieces by patients, families and staff.
- Astronaut-Turned-Artist Nicole Stott Shares View from Space in Paintings
I really feel this is the most meaningful thing I've had the opportunity to work with,
- Colorful spacesuit painted by children with cancer worn by astronaut in space
We were overwhelmed by the very positive reaction and excitement about Courage on ISS,
- MD Anderson, NASA and ILC Dover partner on Space Suit Art Project to increase childhood cancer awareness
- 2
Founded and chairs the Space for Art Foundation, working with children in hospitals, refugee centers and schools
The Space for Art Foundation Inc. (IRS ruling year 2018, St. Petersburg, Florida) lists Stott as a founding director and board chair. Reporting in 2019 described the project as working with children in hospitals in more than 45 countries, several refugee camps and schools, with Stott traveling to help children create the suits. Reporting in 2023 said she has worked with children in hospitals and schools around the Tampa Bay area and that the foundation's latest suit, Beyond, includes artwork from at least one child in 192 countries.
Principle demonstrated: Sustained, hands-on contribution to vulnerable children
Supporting evidence
- Space for Art Foundation Inc (EIN 83-1005213)
(paraphrase) Mission: uniting a planetary community of children through the awe and wonder of space exploration and the healing power of art. Nicole Stott is listed as board chair and, with Maria Lanas, as a founding director; ruling year 2018; St Petersburg, FL.
- Florida Astronaut Celebrates Space With Colorful Suit In Wynwood Exhibition
(paraphrase) The project began with one hospital and now includes work with kids in hospitals in over 45 countries, several refugee camps and some schools; Stott travels the world and helps kids create the spacesuit. Stott: "Kids are pointing at this [spacesuit] and they're talking about their future because of this."
- Clearwater astronaut brings art to kids and space
She's worked with kids in hospitals and schools around the Tampa Bay area.
- STEM/STEAM Day Q&A with former NASA astronaut and artist Nicole Stott
It is compelling to watch children sit up straighter, feel stronger, and talk about their futures because of our mission.
- Space for Art Foundation Inc (EIN 83-1005213)
- 3
Extended the spacesuit art program to children's hospitals abroad
In December 2018 Irish aerospace engineer Norah Patten described bringing the project's Exploration suit to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, where young patients painted a section later quilted into the suit, and wrote that the project is founded and led by Stott. In 2023 Seattle Children's Hospital reported that its patients contributed 28 pieces of art to an art spacesuit through the Space for Art Foundation, which it described as co-founded by Stott.
Principle demonstrated: Inclusion of sick children across countries
Supporting evidence
- When space and art combine, something magical happens
The Spacesuit Art Project is founded and led by Stott.
- Seattle Children's Patients Help Create Art Spacesuit
(paraphrase) Patients contributed 28 pieces of artwork to be quilted onto an art spacesuit through the Space for Art Foundation, co-founded by NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, working with the hospital's Creative Art Therapies program.
- When space and art combine, something magical happens
Character dimensions
The five dimensions
We assess conduct against five dimensions. A dimension marked "not independently assessed" means we did not review documentation for it; it is never a negative finding. We do not assign scores.
Relationship Integrity
Not independently assessedNo independent documentation reviewed; not assessed.
Personal Integrity
Not independently assessedHer post-NASA conduct since 2015 has been consistent with her stated priorities: she described the children's spacesuit project in 2016 as the most meaningful work she had done, and a decade later still chairs the foundation built around it. No instance of dishonesty or broken commitment was found.
Professional Integrity
Not independently assessed27-year NASA career spanning engineering, flight and leadership posts (ISS Integration Branch Chief; Chief of the Vehicle Integration Test Office). At her retirement, Flight Operations director Brian Kelly said on the record that she "has always cared deeply about America, our youth, and the importance of STEM education and inspiration." No adverse findings located.
Moral Courage
Not independently assessedNo specific documented instance of moral courage (defending someone at personal cost, challenging wrongdoing) was located in this research.
Respect for Others
DocumentedStrongest dimension. Sustained, hands-on work with hospitalized children and children in refugee centers since 2016, documented by the hospital partner, the nonprofit's public record and multiple independent news reports.
Recognition rationale
Why the standard was met
Nicole Stott met the standard through a decade of sustained, hands-on, independently documented work bringing art and hope to children in hospitals and refugee centers. She co-led the Space Suit Art Project with pediatric cancer patients from its 2016 launch, founded and chairs the Space for Art Foundation, a registered nonprofit, and has personally worked with children in hospitals, refugee centers, and schools on several continents, as documented by hospital partners, public nonprofit records, and independent local reporting. The record shows consistency between her stated priorities on leaving NASA in 2015 and her conduct since. No misconduct of any kind surfaced in research. Recognition rests on her treatment of people with far less power than herself, not on her spaceflights.
Professional biography
Career context
Nicole Stott joined NASA at Kennedy Space Center in 1988 as an operations engineer and was selected as an astronaut in 2000. She served as a flight engineer on Expedition 20/21 in 2009, logging 91 days in space and one spacewalk, and flew as a mission specialist on STS-133 in 2011, the final flight of Discovery. She later served as Chief of NASA's Vehicle Integration Test Office and retired from NASA in 2015 to work as an artist and STEAM education advocate.
- Agency
- NASA (retired)
- Classification
- Professional astronaut
Sources and methodology
How this profile was researched
Researchers gathered the sources below between October 15, 2026. Every source was retrieved and read by a person before being approved by a reviewer. We prefer primary sources, contemporaneous documentation, and credible independent reporting, and we do not treat anonymous accusations or unverified allegations as established facts.
- https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stott-np.pdf
- https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/astronaut-nicole-stott-retires-from-nasa-2/
- https://siliconrepublic.com/?p=796330
- https://room.eu.com/article/creating-the-space-for-art-foundation
- https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/nicole-stott
- https://www.planetary.org/profiles/nicole-stott
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Stott
- https://www.abet.org/nicole-stott-selected-as-keynote-speaker-at-2026-abet-symposium/
- MD Anderson, NASA and ILC Dover partner on Space Suit Art Project to increase childhood cancer awareness
- Astronaut-Turned-Artist Nicole Stott Shares View from Space in Paintings
- Colorful spacesuit painted by children with cancer worn by astronaut in space
- Space for Art Foundation Inc (EIN 83-1005213)
- Florida Astronaut Celebrates Space With Colorful Suit In Wynwood Exhibition
- Clearwater astronaut brings art to kids and space
- STEM/STEAM Day Q&A with former NASA astronaut and artist Nicole Stott
- When space and art combine, something magical happens
- Seattle Children's Patients Help Create Art Spacesuit
Corrections and review
Help us get it right
Profiles are reviewed periodically and whenever new, credible information reaches us. Recognition can be reaffirmed, suspended, or withdrawn. If you are Nicole Stott or represent them, you can respond to anything on this page.