Ark Galactapedia

Michelle "Sal" Saleno was a test pilot for the Amecanio Navy and is best known as the first Human to quantum travel beyond the orbit of Jupiter (Sol IV) and for founding the 999th Test Squadron. Saleno learned to fly from her parents, who owned an in-atmosphere agricultural aircraft and performed contract work as crop dusters. She joined the Navy at age 18 and 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 SEY 2124 and she was accepted into the Navy's Test Pilot Training Division. After graduating the program, she began working with improved versions of Roberts Space Industries' (RSI) quantum drive, eventually completing her test flight beyond Jupiter's orbit in 2128. RSI reached out to Saleno in 2136 after the first model of their Zeus ship disintegrated during its first test flight. At Saleno's urging, the Navy agreed to establish the first incarnation of the 999th Test Squadron, a new wing of the Navy dedicated to developing and testing cutting-edge spacecraft. The changes suggested by Saleno and her crew enabled RSI to successfully complete the Zeus, allowing the company to release the first commercial quantum drive ship to the civilian market. Saleno retired from the Navy in 2156, and spent the latter half of her life teaching at a flight school for underprivileged youth.