Edmonton-raised doctor to go to space in 2026
Posted July 4, 2024 4:48 pm.
Last Updated July 5, 2024 9:19 am.
Edmonton’s Dr. Shawna Pandya is all set to go to space in 2026. She will become the fourth Canadian woman to go to space — the first one to do it on a commercial flight crew.
She will be a part of the mission which is a partnership between Virgin Galactic and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), of which Pandya is space medicine director.
Dr. Pandya earned a degree in neuroscience from the University of Alberta, studying medicine, before taking her Masters at the International Space University in France. Since then, Pandya has worked as a medical advisor to several space, medical, and technology companies.
Talking about her life-long dream, becoming a reality, Pandya says, “It feels incredible. This has been a culmination of a life-long dream and years of work and decades in the making. Women still are far in the minority when it comes to astronauts. They only make up 11-12 per cent. This is us helping to change that percentage.”
Pandya stated that it’s a novel mission profile. According to her, it is a same-day mission which requires the team to be focused and precise in the zero-G (gravity) environment. They have to be very rehearsed and practiced and deal with the dynamics of the zero-G environment.
As space travel gets more accessible and commercialized by companies like Virgin Galactic, Dr Pandya encouraged aspiring astronauts to pursue their dreams.
“Pick what you want to do in space, because space needs all comers, it’s not just for the scientists, pilots, the engineers but we also need artists, entrepreneurs, and story-tellers so whatever you love, there is space for you,” she said.
