The Journey to the Stars: An Interview with Astronaut Aspirant Alyssa Carson

Explore the inspiring story of Alyssa Carson, a passionate space enthusiast aiming to become an astronaut and destined for Mars. From childhood curiosity to citizen science and space education, Alyssa shares her journey, insights into space missions like Artemis, and practical advice for the next generation. In this episode: ● Alyssa shares her lifelong fascination with space and her earliest memories of curiosity about the cosmos ● The impact of space camp in shaping her passion and skills ● How her diverse experiences—water survival, zero G flights, pilot's license—prepare her for space ● The evolving goals of the space industry, including Artemis, Mars missions, and space tourism ● The importance of resilience, problem-solving, and staying adaptable in pursuit of space dreams ● Opportunities in astrobiology and microbiology related to Mars exploration ● Her perspectives on the future of space travel accessibility for ordinary people ● Tips and motivational words for young people dreaming of space careers Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Alyssa's space origin story 02:38 - The significance of space camp in her journey 05:42 - Building skills through diverse training experiences 09:28 - The interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology and microbiology 12:36 - Her studies at Florida Tech and focus on Mars exploration 16:15 - How "The Martian" movie aligns with her interests 17:27 - Moving into her PhD and future plans in space industry 21:34 - The trajectory of lunar and Mars missions, space tourism potential 23:33 - The significance of Artemis and lunar exploration for humanity 28:36 - Upcoming opportunities and her advice to young space enthusiasts 33:34 - Closing thoughts and Alyssa's message for aspiring astronauts Resources & Links: ● So You Want To Be An Astronaut: The Book ● Ready For Lift Off: Becoming An Astronaut Of The Mars Generation ● Alyssa Carson - ● NASA Artemis Program ● Florida Tech Astrobiology Program Connect with Alyssa Carson: ● X ● Instagram This episode is a must-listen for anyone dreaming of a future beyond Earth, offering a blend of personal motivation and industry insights. Keep looking up at the stars and stay curious about the future of space in the UK and beyond! Stay connected with us! Use across various social media platforms to engage with us! Youtube: Website: Instagram: X: Tik Tok: LinkedIn:

You can listen to The Journey to the Stars: An Interview with Astronaut Aspirant Alyssa Carson online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The Journey to the Stars: An Interview with Astronaut Aspirant Alyssa Carson is an episode from The Astro Ben Podcast by Ben Gamble.

This episode is 34:31 long.

This episode was published on Mar 26, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from The Astro Ben Podcast when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.