This Girl Is Preparing To Become The First Human On Mars And She’s Only 17 (Update)
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People have been fascinated with “the final frontier” since the dawn of the day when space travel became possible, if not before. With movies like Star Trek and Star Wars being at the peak of popularity and the global reaction to Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket launch, the interest in colonization outside of our planet has never been higher. But while some of us only dream of going on a NASA mission, one girl is making it her reality.
Alyssa Carson is a 17-year-old girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana who is on a training program to become an astronaut. Her dream is to be the first person on Mars, and she’s aiming for the 2033 Mars One mission. And the girl is surely working towards it. Being the first person to complete the NASA Passport Program by going to all 14 NASA Visitor Centers, Alyssa is also the youngest person to be accepted and graduate the Advanced Possum Academy, officially making her certified to go to space and an astronaut trainee. On top of astronaut training, she is also studying all of her school subjects in four languages (English, Chinese, French, and Spanish). “The biggest [challenge] is time and getting everything done at such a young age while also still attending high school. Continuing to train at a young age will also be further difficulties for me, but I have done great with it so far.” Alyssa told Bored Panda. As her friend mentions in the video below, Alyssa is well aware she can’t get married and start a family, however, Carson understands it and is determined to put it aside to achieve her Mars One dream.
Besides all studying and training, Carson is also a public speaker, aiming to draw interest to space exploration, as well as encourage everyone to seek their dreams. “Always follow your dream and don’t let anyone take it from you,” she says. When asked about personal inspirations, Carson said that “All astronauts, especially women astronauts as they have made the road for me to follow” inspire her.
Update (07/29/18): The article previously stated that Alyssa Carson is being trained in NASA space camp, which is incorrect. We have since corrected the information and apologize for the confusion.
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Meet Alyssa Carson, a 17-year-old girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Despite her young age, she is training to become an astronaut
She aims to be part of the first human mission to Mars on 2033
The mission is part of the effort to establish a human colony on Mars, that could one day save our species
Alyssa first thought of going to Mars when she was 3, after seeing the TV show “The Backyardigans”
Ever since then Carson has been working hard to achieve her goals
In 2008, Bert Carson, her father, enrolled her in the United States Space Camp
She quickly became the first person to visit all three NASA Space Camps
Five years later, Alyssa was the first person to complete the NASA Passport Program by going to all 14 NASA Visitor Centers
Carson is also the youngest person to be accepted and graduate the Advanced Possum Academy
Which officially makes her certified to go to space and an astronaut trainee
With incredibly demanding astronaut training, Alyssa also studies all her school subjects in 4 languages
While not being able to apply to be an astronaut until she turns 18, Carson is the youngest applicant to International Space University
“The biggest [challenge] is time and getting everything done at such a young age” Alyssa told Bored Panda
Alyssa started “Blueberry Foundation”, named after her call sign Blueberry
That’s aiming to encourage kids to seek their dreams and give opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have
As well as draw interest to space travel and her mission
“Always follow your dream and don’t let anyone take it from you,” Alyssa says
As her friend mentions in the video below, Alyssa is well aware she can’t get married and start a family
However, Carson understands it and is determined to put it aside in order to achieve her dream
Watch the video below to see Alyssa’s journey and goals
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This tops a list of things I really don't want to do, thanks.
The sheer ineptitude of this article. More like the poor kid is "suicidal" and "delusional". Sometimes being in the front just means you're the first to die. Follow your dreams is one of the worst advice ever coming from a kid who does not support herself. It's a bit inspiring she goes to space camps but she will turn 18 soon, become an adult and have to financially support herself and live in the real world – then again, posing photos for social media is way easier!
Or it could mean your the first to do that thing. Anyway the first crew of Mars did die atleast they died for a good cause
Why the "She can't get married, she can't have kids." in the title on the front page? So old-fashioned ... That girl is living her dream and doing her utmost to advance technology. I think she's very brave and commendable for taking up this challenge.
Exactly, if this article was about a guy, the title would be something else completely
If it was a guy, it wouldn't have rated an article.
If this article was about a guy it would say the same. This is a colonization mission it’s a one way trip to mars. Anybody that goes would have to leave any family they have behind and never see them again and who would want that.
When I read it at first I though she was ill and that's why she can't have kids and decided to go to space.
They changed the topic was very sexist, like the rest of world.
Also, when she arrives at Mars to 'colonize' it, she will be expected to have children after all.
She will not be colonizing it, she will be getting it ready for other people to colonize. Her mission is to set it up, not populate it.
The article is a bit misleading. Nasa isn't specifically training Alyssa Carson to be an astronaut. What she is doing is great and she may well become an astronaut but the majority of the activities listed are open to any young person interested in space. The Nasa Passport Program is a visitor promotion where you get coupons, discounts and a commemorative stamp for each visitor center you visit. Possum Space Academy is a 4-5 day space camp aimed at kids. It's a fancy, expensive space camp but a space camp. The impressive part is that she got in as the Advanced Possum Academy is for college-aged students. The girl is brilliant and may be the first on Mars, but at the moment, she's not on Nasa's payroll and is just a young lady interested in becoming an astronaut.
I got a passport too. It stamped all the Cambodian & Indonesian restaurants I'd eaten at during a promotion. I cashed it in for a free appetizer.
Now, you can claim that the diplomatic corp is training to be an ambassador. :)
That's not stopping her from acting like a celebrity.
Love it! First sane comment I’ve read here.
My thought exactly. Next some kid's parents will want to cash in on the ephemeral internet fame fad by claiming their child is going to become a brain surgeon by visiting all hospitals that have a brain surgery ward. Plus, posing in front of ambulance maintenance workers in a med gown.
This tops a list of things I really don't want to do, thanks.
The sheer ineptitude of this article. More like the poor kid is "suicidal" and "delusional". Sometimes being in the front just means you're the first to die. Follow your dreams is one of the worst advice ever coming from a kid who does not support herself. It's a bit inspiring she goes to space camps but she will turn 18 soon, become an adult and have to financially support herself and live in the real world – then again, posing photos for social media is way easier!
Or it could mean your the first to do that thing. Anyway the first crew of Mars did die atleast they died for a good cause
Why the "She can't get married, she can't have kids." in the title on the front page? So old-fashioned ... That girl is living her dream and doing her utmost to advance technology. I think she's very brave and commendable for taking up this challenge.
Exactly, if this article was about a guy, the title would be something else completely
If it was a guy, it wouldn't have rated an article.
If this article was about a guy it would say the same. This is a colonization mission it’s a one way trip to mars. Anybody that goes would have to leave any family they have behind and never see them again and who would want that.
When I read it at first I though she was ill and that's why she can't have kids and decided to go to space.
They changed the topic was very sexist, like the rest of world.
Also, when she arrives at Mars to 'colonize' it, she will be expected to have children after all.
She will not be colonizing it, she will be getting it ready for other people to colonize. Her mission is to set it up, not populate it.
The article is a bit misleading. Nasa isn't specifically training Alyssa Carson to be an astronaut. What she is doing is great and she may well become an astronaut but the majority of the activities listed are open to any young person interested in space. The Nasa Passport Program is a visitor promotion where you get coupons, discounts and a commemorative stamp for each visitor center you visit. Possum Space Academy is a 4-5 day space camp aimed at kids. It's a fancy, expensive space camp but a space camp. The impressive part is that she got in as the Advanced Possum Academy is for college-aged students. The girl is brilliant and may be the first on Mars, but at the moment, she's not on Nasa's payroll and is just a young lady interested in becoming an astronaut.
I got a passport too. It stamped all the Cambodian & Indonesian restaurants I'd eaten at during a promotion. I cashed it in for a free appetizer.
Now, you can claim that the diplomatic corp is training to be an ambassador. :)
That's not stopping her from acting like a celebrity.
Love it! First sane comment I’ve read here.
My thought exactly. Next some kid's parents will want to cash in on the ephemeral internet fame fad by claiming their child is going to become a brain surgeon by visiting all hospitals that have a brain surgery ward. Plus, posing in front of ambulance maintenance workers in a med gown.