Jean Wright was part of a team that sewed the space shuttle Atlantis. Yes, that’s right, SEWED the space shuttle that flew over 30 missions and made significant contributions to our understanding of space.

When a space shuttle returns to Earth from space, it encounters extreme temperatures and friction from the Earth’s atmosphere. To protect the shuttle and its crew from these conditions, engineers had to find a solution that was able to withstand temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Traditional solutions like metal or ceramic materials were too heavy or too fragile for this task.  The engineering experts were stuck, they needed a different approach.  A successful solution came when they looked outside of their expertise to find new possibilities.

The quilted tiles covering the surface of the Atlantis were just that - the unlikely solution they were looking for. By sewing layers of ceramic cloth together, the team was able to create a lightweight, heat-resistant material that could withstand the extreme conditions of reentry.

The story of the quilted tiles on the space shuttle Atlantis is more than just a tale of ingenious problem-solving.  It is a reminder that sometimes the most effective solutions come from looking beyond our expertise and exploring new and unexpected possibilities.  

As humans, we tend to rely on our past experiences and knowledge to solve problems, especially in our professional roles. We draw from what we know and what we’re familiar with, and oftentimes it works.  When we get stuck though, that’s the time to look beyond our expertise and figure out how quilting (or whatever unique ways of fixing the problem we can find) can help launch us to new heights.

‍

Learn more about the Sew Sisters by checking out Jean’s  TEDx talk