Michelle Saleno

# MICHELLE SALENO

Michelle "Sal" Saleno was a test pilot for the Amecanio Navy and is best known as the first [Human](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0Nwpnr6wa2-humans) to quantum travel beyond the orbit of [Jupiter](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/Vy2OMo22wz-jupiter-sol-v) and for founding the [999th Test Squadron](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0qa16drQN1-test-squadron-999). A skilled pilot with an intuitive understanding of avionics, her insights into the experimental spacecraft she flew led directly to multiple advances in space travel. Most notably, the changes suggested by Saleno and the members of the 999th to [Roberts Space Industries](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/RWwZDn2Xrw-rsi) (RSI) enabled the company to successfully complete the [Zeus](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VYLd4WxODo-zeus), the first civilian ship equipped with a quantum drive.

# EARLY LIFE

Born in SEY 2096, Saleno was raised in a rural community on [Earth (Sol III)](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/Rw1KpMJLZB-earth-sol-iii). Homeschooled alongside her siblings, she spent her time pursuing whatever subjects of study interested her, particularly physics and mechanical engineering. When she turned fourteen, Saleno learned to fly from her parents, who owned an in-atmosphere agricultural aircraft and performed contract work as crop dusters. They allowed her to take on occasional shifts once they were confident in her abilities, which Saleno would later cite as the start of her lifelong love of flight. She began to take college courses in her spare time, and had attained enough credits and flight experience that by the time she turned 18 that she was accepted into the Amecanio Navy's pilot training program.

# AMECANIO NAVY

Saleno spent the next decade as a fighter pilot in both atmosphere and space. Her flying skills, fast reactions, deep technical knowledge, and daring attitude brought her to the attention of the Admiralty board. In 2124 she was offered a position in the Navy's Test Pilot Training Division. She readily accepted, and was soon evaluating experimental aircraft and spacecraft from both the Navy and private corporations. In 2126, she began working with improved versions of Roberts Space Industries' quantum drive, eventually completing her flight beyond Jupiter's orbit in 2128.

In 2129, Saleno suffered a concussion when the canopy of her aircraft failed to completely separate during an ejection, and had to spend a month in recovery before she could return to work. During that time, she prepared a report that led directly to significant improvements during the ejection process in the standard issue fighters across the Amecanio fleet. Afterwards, she would become known for incomparable focus on identifying all possible failure points in the craft she was assigned to test. In 2133, her observations on take off and landing led Navy engineers to fix a design flaw in the lift fans of an experimental air to space bomber.

# 999TH TEST SQUADRON

After the first full-scale model of their commercial Zeus expedition spacecraft disintegrated during its premiere test flight in 2136, RSI reached out to Saleno for assistance. Saleno saw that once this ship debuted on the civilian market, the Navy would have to rapidly expand to maintain its flight superiority. With the backing of RSI, Saleno proposed that a new squadron be formed to speed the evaluation of cutting-edge spacecraft. The Navy gave their approval, and the 999th Test Squadron was formed. Saleno and her crew spent a year suggesting critical changes to the Zeus, leading RSI to perform a complete overhaul of their hull design. In 2137, Saleno completed her first test flight of the reworked Zeus, and RSI was able to debut the ship on the civilian market in 2140.

# LATER LIFE

Saleno became a media sensation, a position she privately resented for her portrayal as a risk-taker willing to sacrifice herself for the betterment of Humanity. During public appearances, she emphasized that safety was the foremost concern of the 999th and that the completion of the Zeus was a team effort. In 2156, she retired from the Navy and accepted a position as an instructor at a flight school for underprivileged youth.