Mary UpritchardInnovaSpace Admin Director & Space Fan!  When most people think about the type of person who will work in space, the image that springs to mind is that of an astronaut in a bulky white suit floating around outside the International Space Station! That is certainly a part of the story, however the exploration of space needs a lot more than just rocket pilots. In fact, some of the astronauts who will launch this week (July 31st 2025* - Crew-11) come from surprising backgrounds. One of them, Zena Cardman, didn’t start out flying planes or building rockets — she studied microbes in mud and explored caves and Antarctic ice looking for life in extreme environments. Another of the astronauts, Kimiya Yui from Japan, started out in the Japanese Air Force and later trained with engineers and scientists before becoming an astronaut. Theirs and other stories like them prove that you don’t have to be a math genius or science whiz to have a future in space! *note: launch delayed to 1st August 2025 due to weather constraints Crew-11: Pilot Mike Fincke & Commander Zena Cardman (pictured right), Oleg Platonov & Kimiya Yui (pictured left) Image credits: NASA Space Needs Everyone - Below are just a few of the surprising roles that play a huge part in exploring the cosmos:
How to get started then?
Authors: Amy Wang & Chris YuanAmy: Team Member and Experiment Researcher | Chris: Founder, UMIC project/Planet Expedition Commanders Academy (PECA); InnovaSpace advisory group Date of Experiment: April 6, 2025 Location: Huangcaoping, Gengda Township, Wolong District, Sichuan, China Altitude: 2450 meters (Panda Ping) Biodiversity Hotspot: Giant Panda Habitat & Buffer Zone Indigenous groups: Qiang, Tibetan Meet MRD-001: The Mars Recon Dog As part of the StarG2025 platform, the MRD-001 tracked Mars Scout Dog was deployed for its first dual-test mission — one in an urban indoor setting, and another in the field among alpine meadows and virgin forests.
The Test In the first test, the MRD-001 experienced a slope rollover due to camera lag and a collision with a bicycle tire. The controller wires were damaged, but repairs were handled DIY-style — soldered at home by team member Xiao Mao, who also accidentally burned his father’s shirt in the process! Despite that, the field test in the mountainous Wolong terrain was a success: - Smooth movement on muddy slopes - Infrared camera worked reliably - Multiple participants operated functions hands-on Biodiversity Snapshot The Gengda region sits where the Qionglai and Minshan Mountains meet. It supports: - 2,000+ higher plant species (e.g., Davidia involucrata, Taxus chinensis) - Giant Pandas (30% of world’s wild population) - Red Pandas, Sichuan Golden Monkeys, Snow Leopards - White-lipped Deer, Takin, Weasels, and more What We Learned MRD-001 scored 9/10 for performance. Issues with delay and camera streaming were noted, and future upgrades may include a new remote control system. But more than hardware, this was about learning through doing — exploring how robotics and ecology can unite in citizen-led missions. From Pandas to Planets
This isn't just a fun field test — it's training for a future where young people help build and sustain interstellar habitats. Think of it as Earth-based astronaut prep… with pandas! The future of science belongs to the curious — and the courageous. StarG2025 — A Global Collaborative Platform for Space Technology and Citizen Science (part 1)27/5/2025
Author: Chris YuanFounder: UMIC project/Planet Expedition Commanders Academy (PECA); InnovaSpace advisory group On April 6, 2025, the first field mission of the StarG2025 project was launched at the giant panda habitat in Gengda, Wolong District, Sichuan, China. Using a concealed infrared thermal imaging wildlife detection vehicle remotely controlled by satellite navigation and IoT, this pioneering mission marked the beginning of a new chapter in global citizen science and space-tech interaction.  What is StarG2025? StarG2025 is a global collaborative and interactive platform exploring how space technology can serve Earth — and how Earth’s ecosystems can support future space missions. Guided by the PECA 5S values, StarG2025 integrates science, ecology, economy, and education to build a sustainable, interplanetary future. PECA 5S Values:
Why "StarG"?
Our Core Projects: UMIC (Ursa Minor Interstellar Citizens): Since 2021, the world’s first private underwater low-gravity simulation and ecological habitat training platform, for simulated astronaut training, robotic capsules, and underwater Mars farms. MRD (Mars Recon Dog): An AI- and FPV-enabled autonomous robot for ecological monitoring and space terrain simulation. Space Whale: A bionic underwater drone using AI and IoT to monitor whales, analyze ocean health, and enable global remote collaboration. Near-Space Vehicles: Stratospheric airships and gliders supporting meteorological monitoring and educational launches. In 2025, StarG2025 will deploy more remote missions — from mountains to oceans to underwater cities. As a citizen scientist, you could be operating equipment, monitoring wildlife, and contributing to global conservation and space readiness. Join the Movement!
You are not just watching the future — you are helping build it! Author: Dr. Yohana David Laiser, MD Medical Doctor | Space Exploration Enthusiast | Aspiring Public Health Specialist  The government of Tanzania has set itself a goal to venture into space exploration by launching its first ever Communication Satellite, scheduled for the end of 2023 following similar endeavors by other countries in the region. This daring spirit shown by the government is also reflected by a rising number of space-related activities, establishment of privately owned companies venturing into space exploration, and a germinating stalk of space ecosystem in Tanzania, most notably in the country’s commercial city of Dar es Salaam.
One of record-breaking events to ever happen in Tanzania is the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, which is the largest global hackathon organised by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States of America and partner organisations from all over the world, such as ESA, CSA, JAXA, ISRO and many more. Authors: The Team: Life - To & BeyondAn initiative to carry out research & outreach activities related to Astrobiology & Space-allied Studies 'Life' is the most dynamic entity known to humanity and is central to our existence. In this, 'Space Sciences' is one of the most multi-disciplinary fields of human endeavour. Therefore, to celebrate the interdependence between 'Life' and 'Space', we, as a group of space enthusiasts, initiated a non-profit community named "Life- To & Beyond" or "L-T&B" on the 8th of February, 2022. Why us? Life- To implies Astrobiology, i.e. the scientific study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the cosmos, and Life- Beyond implies Space-Allied Studies, i.e. humanity's current efforts to move beyond our planet and simultaneously conserve its novelty. Thus, as our name implies, we aspire to figure out more about Life and Space, which, in turn, are the two sides of the same coin, known as the 'Universe'.  Team Logo: Life - To & Beyond Our Vision and Mission:
We, the members of team L-T&B, firmly believe that 'to explore is to be Human', and so, we rejoice 'Life' as a 'Cosmic Phenomenon' by attempting to: • Figure out the chronicle of our past (i.e. from the big bang and even beyond to conscious life on earth); • Work on our present (i.e. our current efforts to move beyond our planet and at the very same time conserve its unique richness); and • Create a glorious future for humans (i.e. our ultimate fate in the universe). Furthermore, we have the vision to generate awareness and create an impact in every community and country in the world by creating local or accessible opportunities for learning and research concerning Space sciences and STEAM fields with a special focus on Astrobiology and Space-Allied Studies (i.e., Space Pharmacy, Space Biotechnology, Analog missions, Space robotics, space architecture, etc.). To turn our vision into a reality, we vow to engage in Research, Communication, and Outreach concerning our focus areas. Additionally, to spice up our enterprise, we work towards bringing about an intra-, inter-, multi-, and trans-disciplinary approach in whatever we do, including making quality education and research opportunities (and facilities) available to all. To fuel this initiative, we have taken the onerous on us to share information about events and opportunities related to space sciences with all. Girls from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have launched nanosatellites to analyse air pollution, as reported by the UNICEF Office in Kyrgyzstan. According to the organisation, three nanosatellites were created by participants of the UniSat educational program, within a joint project between UNICEF and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The organisation further reported that - "nanosatellites, which belong to the class of small spacecraft, weigh up to 10 kilograms and are equipped with several cameras, one of which is capable of capturing elliptical images of the Earth with 4K resolution. During launch, UniSats allow you to capture stunning high-resolution images of the Earth and space. Sensors collect data on radiation, pressure, gravity, light and gas composition, and large amounts of data, video and images are sent back to Earth for analysis."  Girls launching satellites for air pollution analysis | Photo credit: UNICEF office, Kyrgyzstan "The launch of the nanosatellites is symbolic. It demonstrates the limitless potential of girls and women in Central Asia. Their ability to push the boundaries of science and technology. We are extremely pleased that this year we were able to include 2,000 female participants from the three countries in the program and inspire them to continue their education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We believe that the results of the UniSAT program will bring a cosmic change in society."  Photo credit: UNICEF office, Kyrgyzstan The nanosatellites were created by the girls as part of a 10-day marathon. The project participants mastered the design, engineering, programming, and assembly of the spacecraft. They were able to visit the centre for space technology and remote sensing, and the theoretical knowledge they gained was immediately put in practice during the classes. Under the mentors’ guidance, they designed nanosatellite bodies using 3D modelling and printed them on a 3D printer. The girls also programmed UniSat subsystems and tested them in the lab before launch.  A successful launch | Photo credit: UNICEF office, Kyrgyzstan "In Kyrgyzstan, only one in three girls aged 15-19 is computer literate, and more than 80 percent of girls choose social and human sciences. But how much do these choices reflect girls’ professional interests and aspirations? That’s why UNICEF launched Girls in Science in 2020 to help them expand their horizons, overcome gender stereotypes, and make their career choices. Every year, more than 10,000 girls join the initiative and more girls gain confidence in developing a career in science. In this context, the nanosatellite launch event is not only the result of two years of work for us, but also an inspiration for the potential of girls and our youth." The UniSat program is supported by the Dubai Cares International Education Foundation, Clé de Peau Beauté brand, and philanthropist Nazanin Alakija Article originally published (28/03/2022) in Russian on the website 24.Kg - LINK
Our thanks to Myrza Karimov (University of Central Asia) for supplying InnovaSpace with the version translated into English
Our thanks go to space enthusiast Ermis Divinis, aged 11, who used his digital media skills to create this fun summary of the Mars rovers, which have provided the scientific community with so much valuable data about the Red Planet. Enjoy!
Tomas DucaiStudent of biology (microbiology/genetics), University of Vienna - Space (medicine) enthusiast Indulging in memories, I honestly cannot say at which exact time point in the past my interest in astronomy arose. Nevertheless, in this context, I do remember a memorable experience that occurred when I was a pupil at primary school in Vienna, where I live with my parents. At that time, being an active wheelchair-user, I regularly attended an adventure holiday camp in Slovakia – my country of origin – which was funded especially for kids and adolescents with physical disabilities and the venue location changes with every year. One year, the adventure holiday camp took place in the Slovakian mountains – the High Tatras. Besides a flight in an ultralight-airplane and rafting, we also spent a night out in the open air at the terrace of Slovakia’s second highest mountain, called Lomnický štít, at 2634 meters above sea-level. Looking up at and observing thousands of stars in the night sky left a strong impression on my child’s mind, thinking it very brave as a wheelchair-user to be spending a night in quite an unusual environment, and wondering what it might be like to experience outer space and questioning the reason behind the cohesion of the universe…  My interest in telescopes grew from a young age! With my entry into grammar school, I couldn’t wait for the first year to pass in order to experience physics lessons from my second year onwards. I was very lucky to be taught by a particular teacher (biology from my first year, then physics) who taught her subjects with unbelievable enthusiasm, which transferred to me from the first moment. Realising that astronomy is a sub-discipline of physics motivated me even more to follow the fascinating physics lessons of my favourite teacher, and I was honoured to be accompanied by her in biology until my graduation exam. My experience with a further two physics teachers led to my gaining valuable advice on literature, resulting in my beginning to read the children’s books of the famous British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, and enjoying them to the fullest. As time passed, I also read the other popular scientific books from this great astrophysicist, who developed into an idol in science for me, not only because of his remarkable scientific findings, centred upon black holes, such as the information paradox of black holes, but also because of his personal history, having a motor neuron disease, called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, resulting in being physically paralysed in an electric wheelchair.  An amazing opportunity to attend the STARMUS fesitval in 2016 In 2016, being 16 years old, I experienced an unbelievable trip, which was my great wish for my upcoming 17th birthday. My family and I decided to travel to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, so I could have the chance to participate in the STARMUS festival. It is a prestigious festival of Science and Art, where lots of famous natural and life scientists present the most important scientific findings of their careers. Among 11 Nobel laureates, I had the chance to listen to and experience in person a lecture given by Stephen Hawking, definitely being one of the highlights of the festival. Nevertheless, during the festival, my passion shifted from astronomy to molecular biology/genetics/biomedicine and neuroscience, attending also lectures by the famous life scientists and Nobel laureates Edvard Moser and Elizabeth Blackburn, who sparked my interest in biology.
Now, being an undergraduate student of biology at the University of Vienna, I feel like I am arriving at a fork in the road of my life, trying to merge my interests in molecular biology and astronomy. I am very lucky, being supported in an incredible environment and having connected with amazing, important people who would like to accompany me on my way, noticing that their potential to influence my decisions is extraordinary – hopefully in a positive way. I am certain that my way has not yet ended and I am already very curious about what I will be honoured to experience in the future, pursuing my aim to merge my two major professional interests: astronomy and biomedicine.  Blog also published at Kids2.space Author: Chris YuanMember of the InnovaSpace Board of Advisors; CoFounder Planet Expedition Commander Academy (PECA), Explorers Club member, Space Dreamer... "Bang bang bang, bang bang," there was a knocking sound from the water. This is an 18-foot-deep pool in the diving hall of Nanning City Gymnasium in Guangxi. Two PECA (Planet Expedition Command Academy) trainees: Hannah and Selina, wearing scuba diving gear, are stitching together a satellite model underwater, which is designed with PVC pipes of different colours that are removable and can be spliced together. This training involves scuba divers simulating the role of space station EVA astronauts, capturing and repairing damaged satellites. The person under training must maintain neutral buoyancy during the whole process and retain sober analytical and hands-on ability under the conditions of maintaining air consumption, completing the assembly of the satellite model and bringing it out of the water.  Hannah & Selina working together to construct a model underwater Hannah and Selina are mother and daughter, and Selina had just graduated from college and planned to have a gap year. The pair chose to participate in the 3-month PECA general training course. The scene just described was their training subject for PECA's second physical space, Ocean Planet: astronauts completing space missions in a simulated weightless state. They started from scratch and had already successfully completed the first physical space: Earth-Mountain Exploration, in which they completed a 10-day cross-country horseback trek on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and finally entered Tibet on horseback, after completing 235 kilometres of horseback riding.  Finally they arrived in Guangxi, China and experienced a lot of confined water training, cave diving, to adapt to the exploration of the underwater world, and simulate future space travel. Selina had no previous experience with such a wide range of different exploration types, and when asked if she worried about whether she would be up to the challenges of the training, she said: "I chose to take this step, that is, I chose to face the unknown changes." The PECA curriculum has been seeking a path that connects the ordinary person at one end, with at the other end the coming age of great sailing for civilian space exploration (see also previous blog). Space exploration in the minds of most people is a national strategy, a game for a few people financially supported by the government, and super-rich people. Several of my friends have asked me a similar question, a pointed question:
"How do you think that space travel can become a majority movement in the future? How is their training program different from official astronauts?" Allow me to start with a story. Fifteen years ago, I rode a mountain bike alone from the Ger-mud area of Qinghai to Lhasa, Tibet, and then continued on until I reached the base camp of Mount Everest. This is the highest road in the world. My journey lasted 40 days, was 2200km and ended at the highest altitude of the Everest Base Camp. I later wrote a book "Through Your Eyes, See My Soul - 40 Days of Everest Ride". Some readers asked me the same question: "What is the most important prerequisite for a beginner who will ride the Qinghai-Tibet line? Sufficient money or physical reserves?" After thinking carefully, I replied: Neither of the two you mentioned are the most important, the most important thing is the ambition you have to go, it's the determination, it's the emotion. With that first push, money and other things follow." Think about it, it took only 66 years from the Wright brothers first successful test flight of their plane to the landing of a man on the Moon! |
Welcometo the InnovaSpace Knowledge Station Categories
All
|
RSS Feed