Author: Yogarasa AbanthikaSecond-Year MBBS Student, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka  Yogarasa Abanthika, a second-year MBBS student from Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, whose childhood curiosity about the cosmos has grown into a passion for space medicine. When I was seven or eight years old, looking at videos of the cosmos would move me to tears. Growing up in Batticaloa, a city in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, the concepts of astronomy and space exploration were almost entirely foreign. Like many Asian households, the traditional path of becoming a doctor was the one most spoken about and encouraged by teachers and society. Yet, an unexplainable pull toward the stars grew inside me. Back then, I didn't even know the word “astronaut”—I just told people I wanted to be a “scientist” because that was the only word available to me in my hometown. A turning point came when my grandfather bought me my first computer. While other kids were playing games, my search history was filled with the ambient sounds of planetary atmospheres. By the 7th and 8th grades, I was completely hooked. Without the AI tools we have today, and with nothing but a basic Google search bar, I began hunting for NASA student competitions and online astronomy programs entirely on my own. The Struggles of an Isolated Dream My home is what I fondly call a “small, lovely birdhouse.” It is just me, my mom, and my dad. We don't live around extended family, and the bond we share is incredibly deep. My mother is the strongest woman I have ever known; she does everything for me. Her love is so fierce that even now, during my university years, she cries every single time I have to leave home, even if it is just for a single day. Because they love me so deeply, my parents were initially terrified of my interest in space. In the capital city of Colombo, parents might have access to physical guidance, planetariums, and space camps for their children. But in Batticaloa, I was entirely alone.  Abanthika as a baby in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, where a fascination with the stars began long before she knew the word "astronaut". Determined to break through the isolation, I began reaching out to university and planetarium professors online, looking for guidance. To my immense gratitude, some incredible professors heard my call and stepped forward to help guide my way. I threw my entire effort into international programs like Cubes in Space, asteroid search campaigns, and the NASA Space Apps Challenge. During the Space Apps Challenge, my dedication truly caught attention—the judge personally texted me to share that he had given me a perfect score of 10/10, deeply appreciating the raw passion I put into my work. When the time came for my Advanced Levels (A-Levels), my heart loved mathematics, but the weight of family expectations guided me toward the Biology stream. I adapted. I studied hard, but my passion for the stars never faded. Today, I am a second-year MBBS student. Uniting Two Worlds: The Birth of a Space Doctor Entering medical school, I initially felt terrified. How would my passion for space survive a rigorous medical curriculum? That fear forced me to innovate. I began looking at my strengths in biology and chemistry, and that is when I discovered an emerging, boundary-pushing frontier: Space Medicine. It felt like finding a missing puzzle piece. I started devouring books on aerospace physiology, neuro-medicine, and deep-sea medicine. Suddenly, my two worlds aligned. Space medicine became the mental engine that drives my entire day. I start my mornings reading about aerospace physiology, which gives me the joy and mental energy to tackle dense medical textbooks for the rest of the day. Even during grueling exam seasons, drafting space proposals is what keeps me happy, active, and motivated. Seeing my relentless dedication, my parents underwent a beautiful transformation. About three months ago, they truly began to realize how deep this passion runs, and today, they are my biggest supporters.  Celebrating with parents, whose love and encouragement became the foundation that allowed her dream to grow. I want to succeed in this field to find the ultimate healthcare solutions—not just for astronauts, but as a tribute to the sacrifices made by my parents. I will put in as much effort as I possibly can until this medicine reaches all people—especially the poor, who so often have the least access to it. That, to me, is the real destination.  Family has always remained at the centre of her journey, providing the values and support that continue to shape ambitions. Building the Launchpad in Sri Lanka and Looking Ahead My long-term vision is no longer just personal; it is national. I want to build a solid foundation for space medicine right here in Sri Lanka. Because it is incredibly difficult to get responses from global space experts as an isolated student, I knew I needed a structured platform. I applied, interviewed, and was selected as the Biomedical Lead for SEDS KDU (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space). This role has finally given me the bridge I needed. I am now actively developing space health project ideas and contacting renowned professors to create a dedicated space medicine association in our region. My absolute future plan is to dive headfirst into space medicine, learning as much as I possibly can from every resource and mentor available. This interest has never faded; instead, it is actively growing inside me every single day, becoming stronger and louder. Along this challenging road, the universe sent me my very first true mentor and guide: Prof. Thais Russomano. Her kindness, encouragement, and acknowledgment of my passion have been the greatest gifts of my space medicine era. 
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