Aspiring Astronaut Iram from Pakistan!!!

Assalam.u.alaikum!
I'm a Muslim. My name is Iram Farooq. I'm 17 years old. I'm from Faisalabad, a city in Pakistan. I'm a aspiring astronaut for NASA. I love astronomy since I was 6 years old. When I was 6 years old, I ask others different questions about sky, moon and stars. When I was 7 years old I came to know about space life. I  were searching someone who listen to me and give me answers. Due to interesting answers, my interest in astronomy became my passion and I started to learn about space life at the age of 8 years. But due to lack of support and facilities about astronomy in Pakistan, I did not find answers of my some questions. In 2012, when I were a school student, I read a story book from school library. The name of the book was "Azeem Sciencedaan". This was a very interesting scientist's life and their work story book. After reading book, I became more interested in astronomy and life in space. 
During my school study i read a quote 'Imagination is more important than knowledge' I love this quote and then I started to imagine the space. Always at night I look up at the sky and see stars for a long time and imagine the space. I searched about that quote and know that the author of the quote is Albert Einstien. Then I read more quotes of Einstein from internet and followed them. 
I dreamed a lot about space. In my one dream I saw myself on moon with some other people. The amazing thing was that there was a colony on moon. But the reality is opposite. But my this dream moves towards mars. Now I'm a aspiring Mars girl Astronaut. But if i get a chance to land on moon then is enough. Because my goal is towards Mars and Moon as well. I studied hard at school, mostly in science subjects. In 2016, in my intermediate level part 1 final examination I got 87.3% marks. Good thing is that i got 142/150 marks in maths and 143/150 marks in physics because these are my favourite subjects, important for aspiring astronauts as well. 
I love flying. Therefore I decided to become an aerospace engineer as a starting career for astronaut, and wanna flying a helicopter. In 2017, because I got good marks in science and I love science so i choose science subjects as a pre-engineering student. Daily I search about space life, ISS and NASA Astronaut requirements.
People told me that not to become an astronaut because they thought that it's difficult and impossible for me, and I can't do it. But I did not believe them. I asked them that how is their tomorrow? They answered that they don't know and this is impossible to know! Then I replied that if they don't know about their tomorrow then how they know about my tomorrow!
Unfortunately, In Pakistan, there is lack of facilities and oppotunities for astronomy lovers but I keep doing what I really like and really wanna do. My parents always support me.
I advise others that please don't listen that what other say, only listen that what your heart says. Don't give others the right to change your dreams. Give this right only to yourself. Be confident. Think that you can do whatever you want.
I'm fully confident and ready for fighting against hurdels.
I'm The Mars girl @eyeofastronomy. 
Thank you!

Aspiring Astronaut Fauna from America

Hello, people call me Fauna. I am a 16 year old High School student from America. I first became interested in outer space at a young age, I have always loved looking up at the stars and wondering what is out there. My interest started to peak in Middle School and my pursuit for knowledge about the cosmos and my love for astronomy and astrobiology made me make up my mind right away about my future career. I wanted to be an astronaut. As a child I always fantasized about being among the stars, exploring the final frontier, but I never thought I would ever try hard to pursue this career.

I love science, specifically Biology, and when I learned of experiments on the ISS involving growing plants and seeing how life forms reacted to the space environment intrigued me. I wanted to do exactly what they were doing. I wanted to go to space but keep the aspects of Biology that I had always loved. I have researched a lot since then on the job subject.

I want to become an astronaut more than anything, it's my dream job. But I also have doubts when it comes to it. People laugh when I tell them what I want as a career saying it's impossible, or people don't believe me when I say I am into astronomy, and astrobiology because of the way I look (colored hair, piercings, clothing style etc.). I'm also not the smartest person in the world, but I am trying hard to learn more every day. Even if I have doubts I need to push forward to achieve my greatest dreams, I just need to keep telling myself that I can do it, I WILL get into space. You just need to believe and work hard enough and you can achieve anything.

Right now I am in search of space/astronomy courses or classes to take, and even possible scholarships. NASA and other space camps or courses are something I would love to do too!

Partnership with Landsend Astronomers, Bonded by the Stars!

     Even though the Cosmic Wonderer just started our last March, I am more than delighted to announce that we already formed a partnership with Landsend Astronomers!

     Our partnership is bonded by the stars simply because we share the same goal of promoting astronomy. The Landsend Astronomers are a not-for-personal-profit unincorporated association that is providing astronomy services in the far West of Cornwall and across the UK and the best part, they are currently going through the process of becoming a small charity. Isn’t this amazing? That a nonprofit organization is working towards the advancement of education in astronomy and space sciences without asking for money in return! They are the perfect epitome of what an organization in the name of the stars standby which is, sharing the night sky to everyone.

     You could benefit from our partnership with the Landsend Astronomers because we share the same vision that is – to share the grandeur of the night sky to everyone. Remember, we only have one sky and it is for all of us to enjoy and partake in.

    You can visit the website of Landsend Astronomers in this link http://landsendastronomers.weebly.com/

     Thank you and to the stars!  

Motto of our Organization

     Quite recently, we decided to change our cover picture and replace it with the image of the Milky Way with contract to the previous one showing the four Very Large Telescopes at the Paranal Observatory. To not cause any stir about it, I will provide an explanation about it.

     I know that before I even announced the existence of the organization I’ve started, I’ve already laid down the mission and vision statements alongside with it. However, as days went by, I realized that I forgot a very significant thing that will sum up everything that I’ve wanted my organization to achieve. It is no other than a motto. Other people might view having a motto as insubstantial or unnecessary, but in my opinion, this is essential for people to remember us easier and more effectively.

     The motto of The Cosmic Wonderer is as follows:

     “Helping teens reach for their stars by filling the cosmos of their stories.”

    

     I decided to use the milky way as the header because all along, we belong here - the milky way - the cosmic road. And all of our stories will be witnessed by the stars that belonged here. 

Astronaut Kerouac from USA

I first encountered an astronaut in 5th grade when I met Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and her inspiring story hooked me. Then I met Buzz Aldrin at a space festival. Both stories were incredible enough to make me wonder a bit more about space. Those two fateful encounters somehow made me realize something about space, and it was something I would never forget.

After that, in my 5th grade class, we were told to do a report on something we liked. I chose space. We were given containers with books and magazines on our subjects, and each were told to make a PowerPoint presentation on the information we got from our containers. We also collected some of it off of the internet. My presentation was the longest, and more likely than not, the most boring. But out of all that, I became convinced I wanted to be an Astronaut! Over the summer, I did a lot of research on space and the possibility of going to Mars. This research was a way to see how much I wanted to learn. It also had me a tad bit more interested in space than ever before. I was sure this would be temporary, but my “Space Odyssey” didn’t end in 5th grade.

In 6th grade I decided to not only inform myself about space, but also others. I decide to ask me teacher to see if I could teach, and do a lesson on space, and my idea was accepted. This prompted me to realize how  uninformed people were about space. It also showed me that I had acquired a lot of information over the years. Then, our teacher had us make a documentary on a sub-topic of space. My group and I chose space travel, and narrowed it down to one particular topic of space travel: Propulsion Systems. But we went even farther and narrowed it down to Franklin Chang-Diaz’s VASIMR (Variable SpecifIc Magnetoplasma Rocket), and decided to focus on it, and the information we had. This narrowing down of topics had a few meanings to it, one of which was that I had interested others in space by teaching them. It also meant that I found the best team, and that I would be a good leader. We were also told to get in contact with someone who might know more than we did. I contacted my friend, an engineering professor at SDSU, and got no more from him than we knew. We almost lost all hope.

I was determined to find someone though, and tried contacting NASA’s Phil Sumrall, a rocket scientist who had worked for 40 years at NASA and was working on NASA’s current program, the Orion Constellation Project. By the time NASA contacted me, Mr. Sumrall had taken the initiative to call me before NASA officially gave me his phone number. Him contacting me was something I felt was leading me in the right direction. His contact was also another fateful encounter and showed me that meeting renowned people was going to be necessary for my dream in the making. It also showed to others that I was capable of getting into contact with “big guns,” and ideally a completing my dream. A little while later, I recorded an interview with him over the phone, and constructed my documentary using his information and ours. After all of this, my astronaut dream was just getting bigger and better. But it didn’t end there, and for 2 years, my goal had absolutely no advancement, until Christmas 2012.

The next influence was directly from the heart of space exploration. On Christmas morning, I opened a package that contained a Space Camp shirt, a schedule departing from San Diego heading to Huntsville, Alabama. Space Camp is located in Huntsville, and it was also where Phil Sumrall worked, and where all of the rocket parts, plane parts, and other aeronautical vehicles were designed and tested. This was a dream come true, and it taught me that my dream should not be that, but be reality. At the end of Space Camp, Mr. Sumrall picked me up and granted me access to Redstone Arsenal, where he and Wernher von Braun worked. It was also there that my dream ended and became more than a dream, it became reality. I was also able to see that being an astronaut is a hard, demanding job, that takes a toll on your body.

My dream, which was without development for 2 years, became more than a 

goal, it became reality. The astronauts, the documentary, the lesson, all got the 

goal going. But Space Camp ended that. Space Camp not only helped me 

realize that going to Mars would be possible, it also interested me even more 

about Mars. Those fateful encounters changed my whole point of view on 

space. 

My plan: become an astronaut, no matter what. My newer plan: I will become 

not only an astronaut, but the first person on Mars. See you there!!

My Personal Journey to the Stars Entitled, "Starry Road"

     When did my journey to the stars begin? I don’t know, nor am I cognizant of where or how did it exactly happen. It’s exactly the same way that from one minute to another I shifted from one parallel universe to another, bringing nothing but my thirst for more knowledge regarding astronomy. I don’t know whether I should be grateful of this transition because believe me when I say that my life is harder this time when I am trying to elucidate and give explanation to the various enigmas of the universe than my pretty straightforward life before where I am just singing to the beat of the music until dawn breaks its way through the darkness and I will finally succumb to sleep. Even though my life before I ventured the intriguing world of astronomy was way uncomplicated, I never regretted anything about this. Will I ever been given the chance to return to my previous world where I am passionate about music, I will never do it. Going after music is easier and could let me earn a lot more money than pursuing astronomy, but I chose to go after the road less taken because astronomy is more fulfilling and it is my real passion, which is something that is undeniable.

     Since I have no vestige knowledge of how my passion for astronomy came to existence, I’ll just probably reminisce the day when I first saw the wonders of astronomy came to play right before my eyes.

     I remember that day lucidly. It is that documentation about the universe in Discovery Channel that had captivated my eyes for astronomy when they showed the diverse aspects of astronomy such as the way galaxies interact with one another which produced the most eccentric objects in the universe from the bizarre looking galaxy directly translated by the world renowned Disney character tinker bell and the rose shaped galaxy Arp 273, some peculiar asteroids containing worlds of their own which seem to deny the laws of nature by having their own moon like Ida and its moon Dactyl, and the most phenomenal thing? I finally have a glimpse of the universe even though the land I am stepping at is separated with space by thousands of kilometers.

     Truth be told, I love astronomy not because of these jewels but of a greater course. The mysteries of astronomy are just so baffling to the point that it left me breathless waiting for more. In astronomy, there are more questions than answers that gradually, all of the queries I have accumulated at the back of my mind detonated which paves way for me to seek answers on my own. However, I am mistaken, because the more I learned about the universe the more everything seems to be inexplicable. I perceptibly grasped the concept that astronomy has always and will always be a mystery. I mean if we could fancily explain the nature of dark matter and dark energy why is there still a reason for astronomy to exist? Even though most people will just stay on stargazing and astrophotography, most of the instance, questions are surfacing that we have no conscious knowledge of. So I decided that it’s about time for me to probe in the world of astronomy so that my questions in astronomy will finally have an explanations.

     As you probably know, my heart didn’t belong to astronomy first. I am a musician and so is my family. My father finished his degree in engineering from the top university here in the Philippines and can speak in eloquent Chinese. I followed the footsteps of my parents in music because mainly, I don’t want to be a disgrace to my family not because I am passionately inclined to it. The result is, it didn’t end well. During that time, I am just like the solitary proof of a living ghost, those who drifts around without knowing where to go next and those who doesn’t know their purpose in there. Eventually, I grew tired of my life that I decided it’s time for me to change so I told my parents about it. My parents weren’t thrilled with the fact that I decided to quit music for nothing. I understand them, with the way on how they gauge their reaction because of course they are a musician and for them, music is everything but unfortunately, that is not the case for everyone. We all have our own separate lives, and your purpose in life doesn’t necessarily mean it's someone else’s purpose. My revelation resulted in a long lasting feud between me and my parents although it became less severe as the passing days. Since I know that my family will not be cooperative of my journey towards astronomy, I resolved to walk on the road less taken and here am I right now – striving my best to motivate other aspiring astronauts and astronomers like me to never give up on their dreams, no matter how impossible it might be.

     I first started my journey to the stars on my training ground – my institution. I strive to achieve a really exceptional grades in science, math, and English so that I could join off campus competitions in science which could give a colossal boost to my career in astronomy in the future. Hard works do payed off because after some time, I managed to get a gold medal in a science competition for our batch in a science quiz bee. This is just the start of it.

     I realized that joining in science quiz bees and sweeping gold medals are not enough for me to be an astronaut in the future so I decided now to join local amateur astronomy groups in my community. 

     I first incorporated myself with the "Astronomical League of the Philippines," wherein at the age of 13, I managed to be the first amateur astronomer accepted ever since in their history which immediately grant me an appreciable fame on the astronomical communities in the Philippines. In ALP, we focus more on the practical side of astronomy such as the telescope operations and astrophotographies that is why I was able to know the positioning of the basic planets and I was able to name a few stars on the night sky. 

     Since my science grades are pretty remarkable on my institution, I was given the chance to compete on some of the local astronomy quiz bees such as the UP Astronomical Society's Big Bang and Philippine Astronomical Society's quiz bee. I was able to garner 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal on two consecutive years of competing in these quiz bees,

.

      I then joined the Philippine Astronomical Society which is the largest astronomical community in the Philippines. In PAS, we propel the astronomical education on the Philippines towards the success of the Filipino youths. Also in last year, I became a full-fledged member of the Astronomers Without Borders wherein we have a theme of "One sky, one people." 

     Due to my flourishing astronomical achievements here in the Philippines, the Philippine Journal of Astronomy (Vol 7 No 1) interviewed me with the theme of "Of Stars, Searches and Suitabilities."
Link of my interview is published here http://www.astroleaguephils.org/pja_mar2015.pdf

     At the onset of 2016, I was nominated by the Eduzine Global for the ACE (Achieve, Celebrate, and Educate) Young Achievers Award, which is a competition featuring the top 50 young achievers across the globe with the aim of "one better world." Albeit I didn't earn my way to emerge as the Champion, I am a finalist (top 8) of the said competition which I am wholeheartedly grateful for already. This is probably the toughest competition I've participated to ever since. The second thing I'm grateful of, I've been given the chance to be an Eduzine Global Young Ambassador where I am to promote the good values of Eduzine.
Article of my submitted story in Eduzine http://www.eduzineglobal.com/162/854/sobinas-universal-appeal Article of my nomination http://www.eduzineglobal.com/70/865/eduzine-global-young-achiever-awards-2016 Article of me being a finalist http://www.eduzineglobal.com/70/871/and-the-winner-is

     When I've initially joined the Twitter community, what I immediately realize is that I am not the only aspiring astronauts/astronomers in the world. I am 15 years old now when I decided to create an organization which supports and promotes aspiring astronauts and astronomers nationwide by sharing their stories and the product is no other than the Cosmic Wonderer and you are currently at the official website of the said organization if ever you are reading this.

     I joined the Mars Generation to be a Student Space Ambassador only these past couple of days in which we are building a stronger tomorrow by exciting our youth today about STEM and space.

     Looking back at the days when I've first started out my career in astronomy, I am bewildered that for once, I was able to achieve something significant even though it is just minuscule. Every time I'm thinking of my achievements, it is not the number of medals that is usually giving me an atmosphere of complacence and tranquil but it is the fact that I am able to inspire other kids in my community to go after their dreams no matter how insurmountable it might seem.

     Dawn is about to settle in and the moon is making its final descent across the sky. As I view this choreographic movements of the cosmos, I lay pondering below the dim glow of the moonlight why or how I even came not to only love, but to be able to live the life of studying astronomy. I am now enlightened that everyone is innately ardent in astronomy because it is instilled in us the moment we came into existence because we are made up of star stuffs. The reason why other people ended up having a life outside of astronomy is that star stuffs will manifest its image in a lot of ways and most often or not, human desires will overcome the unconscious side of the universe. However, I am not totally convinced of this revelation.

     I love astronomy because I just love it. If you really love someone you will not ask "why" or demand reasons why is that so in the very first place. The day we realize that we truly love something or someone, we will acknowledge that words are not capable of explaining such feelings so complex that even though thousands of passages are written about it nothing will ever came across to explaining the right context about it.

    If I am to disclose the reasons why I love astronomy, maybe it's the fact that I learned how to be contented because I learned that the even though the day will come that everything about me will dissipate, the stars will be there - still - to witness my life and death so I am not totally unattended. Likewise, Astronomy has taught me a lot of life lessons which include to be humble all of the time because as much as we want too, we will never be capable of reaching the stars physically. In addition, Astronomy has always intrigue my curiosity in a way no other fields of study is capable of and what is the meaning of life but not to wonder and wander which is two simultaneously different things. With this, I labeled my personal journey to the stars as the "Starry Road" because I know that I will be always guided by the stars along the way.

      

Astronaut Sagarika Chikhale from India!

Hello, my name is Sagarika Chikhale. I am 20yo Aspiring Astronaut from India. When i introduce this to someone or someone ask about me,they react with big eyeball asking how someone like me have an interest in such a boring stream and i don't know why they think like that.Here i am saying today that Aerospace Industry is only amazing field having number of opportunities,not only this,this is addiction if you following this through internet,media and by mistake if someone ask you about space you will definitely not gonna leave him/her until you get satisfied with your discussion.

It's really amazing when you are part of this.One question arises here why i love night sky,rockets,stars,satellites,etc. Well,since when i was in 6th standard i can remember looking up at night sky, i wonder what the stars where made of but most of all i dreamed to someday going there, only i knew that it would happen i would go to space.

This all come from when i was in 6th standard we had a chapter and name was 'An Indian-American Woman In Space', she was Astronaut Kalpana Chawla,1st Indian Woman Astronaut.That time i was thinking by looking her picture in textbook, What she is she wearing like orange suit and was sitting with helmet and i thought biker instead of Astronaut.That was the first time i ever heard of Astronaut. When my teacher said story of her my whole life was changed.I have spend weeks for the searching of astronomy.Initially i had no sources to more understand space.I used newspaper cuttings to raise my knowledge.Along the way i realized that the journey that i traveled and those experiences was so important to me.

As we all know Abigail Harrison,famous teenage Aspiring Astronaut she said 'Space is looking for people who are passionate about what they do,not for those who think they are fit for this job' and i agree with her statement.

Through my journey i met two honorable person, Astronaut Story Musgrave from NASA and Lluis Gesa from European Space Agency(ESA). Astronaut Musgrave taught me one thing, do what you loved to do and if you really want to do it, just do it and Lluis Gesa showed me to chase your passion. Lluis inspired me to do things to inspire someone else about their dreams,the way he had that.

Firstly,you have your own ambition your dreams-Astronaut,Doctor,Scientist whatever it may be and you need to talk this with other people.The first person other then me to believe in my dreams was my parents.I started saying i wanna be an Astronaut when i was just a kid.They saw me with two diaries.Those were full of news newspaper cuttings from big bang theory to how to become an Astronaut.They said why don't you be scientist or doctor.Its not they discouraged me,they didn't believed.I still remember the day when i was in 10th standard i was still saying i wanna be an Astronaut.That time my father said this is what you wanna do, you need to start working towards it and think about how you gonna get there.From that first time my parents become my biggest supporter.

Next,you have to acting big,this means,taking opportunities when they come upon you.When i organized an event in my college to inspire other that time for me to acting big,that event was biggest opportunity to present myself in front of other.All you need is to keep patience and stay strong.Even you need to surround yourself with those people who have dreams like you.For me other then my parents was my best friend Garima.She believed in me and my dreams,she supported me all the time and she still support me.

I believed that dreamers can change the world and everyone will support you until you support yourself.Must remember you can achieve whatever it is you wish to achieve.There will be setbacks,there will be doubters,there will be minded people who can think you are crazy and try to discourage you. But remember you create your own reality and you are capable of greatness.

Thank You..

Astronaut Sahda from UAE

At a very young age around my 7th year of standing on this planet, I dreamt of travelling through the stars. Right now I live in the United Arab Emirates, where 6 years ago when I was a third grader during a science class on the solar system, I happened upon a picture of the Milky Way and at that moment our teacher was explaining about living in space. After the class I went through what had been taught that day and I wanted to be a part of NASA’s space program, so I talked to people around me and they simply had a look which meant, you will never get to be one but my dad supported me. He bought me encyclopedias and many other books, one of my early favorite was DK’s space encyclopedia, which gave me the basic knowledge of space travel. On my 11th birthday, I was surprised with a Celestron telescope at this time most of the people around me understood, that this was my dream because they noticed that, I kept working on it all day. 2014 was the year all my hard work started to pay off, During the test launch of Orion space craft the announcer said some words that were really emotional and inspiring he said something like, “Go delta. Go Orion. This is the dawn of Orion, the dawn of America’s new age of space travel” the following year I joined twitter as an aspiring astronaut and got to know many kids who had the same dream and I started to get noticed. The first person I met was Mackenzie as @JrAstronaut who supported me and inspired me. Then I met Astronaut Abby as a friend who always stood by my side, she is a reason where I am today. She continues to inspire me every day and a few months after that I got to know UAE’s gonna send a probe to Mars and that is when I knew UAE had a space agency, then I got a message from MR. Ibrahim Al Qasim, the deputy project manager of the Emirates Mars Mission and the project manager of the Nayif-1 cube sat mission, asking me to visit the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC). I was really excited. Then the next year they had a space event called Mission: Space at downtown Dubai. There I met the Mars Mission project manager MR. Omran Sharaf and a few of the other people who work at MBRSC, their words were inspiring, they gave me a push like never before. Then came up an opportunity to be a part of the newly launched non-profit, called The Mars Generation, by Astronaut Abby. I joined it as an ambassador and then I was given a chance at my school to talk about the need for space travel and it went well except my voice. Then I got recognized at my school as an astronaut in training and after the speech kids came up to me, even my seniors and they were really glad in hearing my story. I knew that every opportunity I get is because of someone was there to inspire me and give me a push. MR. Omran showed me that and then with the help of Astronaut Abby and our principal I formed the Scholars Astro Club, at our school where my dreams all began. All the credit of my achievements inside the school goes to my principal who is a true supporter and the one who provides me with many opportunities that is really amazing. Then I got to visit the Sharjah center for astronomy and space sciences at Sharjah, UAE, where I met an astronomer named Ahmed whose words inspired me too. He told “so I’m an astronomer and you are an astronaut. Hoping to see you up there”. I got a message from my friend Tanya who lives in India about starting an internet community of aspiring astronauts I agreed and she started it out with just five members including me, it is now running with over 50 members we share a very different social background. Another great moment was when I got to meet Astronaut Chris Hadfield who really helped me along my way to success, by providing me and the other aspiring astronaut in the world with videos of living in zero G, that really helped. I met him after his talk in Dubai about his journey. The most inspiring part was when he gave me his watch and the people around were like “wow”(I gave it back). He then signed a headshot for me and he wished me luck on my path to be an astronaut. At the same event I got to meet MR. Ibrahim along with MR. Saeed and MR. Saud (whom I already met before). They work for MBRSC.  I enjoyed talking to them. That was the most recent event in my journey. And I hope there is more to come! I believe in going to Mars and I wish to be among the first ones to get there. Remember that it is always you who have to choose your dream. There is always something that interests you and you have to work towards it, inspiring people along the way. Let us start as students and end up serving the human race.

E-mail: 2003sahda@gmail.com

Twitter: @2003sahda