( CNN ) Malala Yousafzai 's stellar career has included a Nobel Peace Prize . Last week , she made it into outer space . A NASA astrophysicist has named an asteroid after the teenage education activist from Pakistan , who was gravely wounded by a Pakistani Taliban gunman for promoting the right of girls ' to go to school . It took a meticulous medical response to save her life more than two years ago . But Malala recovered with no serious neurological damage to become a powerhouse for her cause . After reading her story , scientist Amy Mainzer , who also consults for PBS on a children 's educational science show , decided Malala deserved to be immortalized . So , she attached her name to the heavens . Thousands of asteroids swarm through the solar system mainly between Mars and Jupiter . Mainzer , working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory , discovered Asteroid 316201 in June 2010 , which gave her the right to name it . `` My postdoctoral fellow Dr. Carrie Nugent brought to my attention the fact that although many asteroids have been named , very few have been named to honor the contributions of women ( and particularly women of color ) , '' Mainzer wrote in a note to Malala . Mainzer gave it the name 316201 Malala , or 2010 ML48 . Malala 's asteroid circles the sun between Mars and Jupiter every five and half years , Mainzer said . `` It is about 4 kilometers in diameter , and its surface is very dark , the color of printer toner . '' As a scientist , her support for Malala 's work is logical . When girls around the world also get educations , it increases human potential . `` We desperately need the brainpower of all smart people to solve some of humanity 's most difficult problems , and we ca n't afford to reject half the population 's , '' Mainzer wrote .
Astrophysicist Mainzer says she was was touched by Malala 's story of determination . Mainzer also works on educating children about science .