From Space Toilet Cleaner to Mars Mission Leader: Claire's Cosmic Journey

Claire Parfitt’s journey into space science began in a very unusual way—by cleaning a space toilet during her work experience at age 14. Growing up in Nottingham, Claire attended Fernwood School in Wollaton, where her science teachers encouraged her curiosity about space. She first applied for work experience at NASA, but was turned down. Instead, she secured a placement at the National Space Science Centre in Leicester. There, she helped staff prepare for the opening of the National Space Centre, which would become a major attraction for space enthusiasts in the UK. One of her most memorable tasks was unpacking astronaut Helen Sharman’s space suit, which she described as being like opening a box of treasure. She also helped clean and preserve a space toilet, a unique piece of technology used on space missions. These experiences gave her a firsthand look at the fascinating world of space exploration and inspired her to pursue a career in the field.

After her early experiences, Claire went on to study physics and earned a PhD in spacecraft power systems engineering. She worked in the UK space industry before moving to the Netherlands in 2019 to join the European Space Agency’s European Space Research and Technology Centre. Now 42, Claire leads a team that is planning for the future exploration of Mars, both by robots and eventually by humans. She has worked on important missions like the Rosalind Franklin rover, which is set to explore the surface of Mars, and the Solar wind, Magnetospheric, Ionic Link Explorer mission, which studies how Earth responds to solar wind from the Sun. Claire is also the chair of a special group at the European Space Agency, helping to guide the direction of future space missions.

Claire believes that Mars is a scientifically important planet to study. She is especially excited about the Rosalind Franklin rover, which will launch in 2028. She says that preparing for future Mars missions is a huge task, and her team must plan carefully to protect Mars and gather the best scientific data possible. Claire describes her career as a dream come true and credits her early experiences and supportive teachers for helping her get where she is today. She hopes her story will inspire other young people to pursue their interests in science and space. The National Space Centre, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, continues to inspire visitors, just as it inspired Claire many years ago. Her journey shows that even small beginnings, like cleaning a space toilet, can lead to leading teams exploring other planets.