Mars Bound: Alyssa Carson

By Carol Cali

Alyssa Carson is someone who knows where she’s going, and that destination is Mars! At just 21 years-old, her accomplishments to date put her on track to achieving this feat. Her father recalls that Alyssa’s curiosity about space was sparked as a toddler watching an episode of Nickelodeon’s “Backyardigans” where cartoon animals went on an imaginary mission to Mars. Well Mars is very real to Alyssa and since then, she’s been working diligently to be a member of the first crew headed to earth’s neighboring planet. Alyssa is part of what some refer to as the Mars Generation.

For many, the traditional path to becoming an astronaut begins as a jet pilot. Alyssa’s path is different. Her journey began when she attended her first NASA Space Camp when she was just seven years old. To her, it was better than a trip to Disney World because she was around life-sized rockets and exposed to various aspects of space travel. It was also where she earned her call sign “Blueberry” for the off-color jumpsuit her dad bought her to wear to camp because she wanted to look like a real astronaut. Alyssa attended many more NASA-sponsored Space Camps around the world in which she learned robotics, rocketry, and numerous areas of space-related sciences. Alyssa shares that her family was not STEM-oriented. Raised by her father, she says “we didn’t sit at the dinner table talking about space.” As a young girl, she also took piano lessons, played soccer, and was a Girl Scout. When she was about 10 years old, she began speaking to organizations, like local Girl Scout troops, about her interest in space. Since then, those audiences have grown to thousands of people around the globe.

Project PoSSUM transitioned Alyssa to accredited scientific research. This non-profit, world-renowned organization touts that “it is not an Astronaut Experience; they do not train tourists!” At only 15, she was the youngest to attend and work alongside college graduates, scientists, and STEM professionals, who were all pursuing astronautic-related certifications to participate in real NASA-supported research. While still in high school, Alyssa obtained multiple professional certifications that enabled her to become a certified citizen-scientist astronaut. For example, one track was a Professional Certification in Bioastronautics with a concentration in IVA Space Suit Evaluation which means she is certified to test all kinds of space suits in many different environments including microgravity and high-G.

Alyssa attributes the support and mentorship she received as a very important part of her personal growth. It was at age nine at a Sally Ride event in New Orleans that Alyssa had the opportunity to meet Sandra Hall Magnus, a NASA Astronaut that flew on multiple STS missions, and someone she admired. During their conversation, Ms. Magnus shared that she too had a fascination with space at a young age. This was a moment of validation for Alyssa, because it gave her the confidence knowing that even at a young age, it was possible to pursue a dream of going to space.

Alyssa’s first general aviation flying experience was an EAA Young Eagles flight at a Ninety-Nines event that her father says she did not fare too well. Learning to fly was something she was reluctant about but knew it would prove to be very helpful in the future. As Alyssa describes it, “For my first lesson, I just hated it. I felt like everything was out of my control. The aircraft felt rigid. There was lots of turbulence. But with each lesson after that, I learned how to gain control and eventually I really began to like flying”. Alyssa earned her private pilot certificate at 18 years old and continues to fly when she has the time.

Currently a Junior attending the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, Alyssa is pursuing a degree in Astrobiology which is a science about all space-related sciences. Her daily routine is no different than other college student. She stresses about exams, enjoys hanging out with friends, and catches as many rocket launches as possible from her college apartment which is located just minutes from the beach on Florida’s Space Coast. She’s enjoying college because it’s become a place where she feels comfortable with peers that share similar interests. Her professors inspire her as well “because many of them are doing space-related research that is very complicated, so you have to work to keep up” she says.

Alyssa’s growing popularity in recent years both on the speaking circuit and across social media platforms has caught the attention of large international brands. Her Instagram and Facebook pages boast 545K and 206K followers respectively, which is quite a feat for a young scientist and aspiring astronaut. Brands such as Frito-Lay, Samsung, Bulgari, GAP, and most recently Sceye, are enabling her to share her voice and are providing opportunities to promote the importance of supporting girls’ participation in the STEM fields.

Working a timeline to be a member of the first manned flight to Mars in the 2030’s, Alyssa knows she still has a lot to accomplish. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to head to France to earn a Masters of Space Studies from the International Space University. She is already fluent in four languages (English, Spanish, French and Mandarin).

Alyssa knows that she still must be accepted into NASA’s astronaut program which is a rigorous and selective process. NASA recently accepted its first class in 4 years this past December 2021. Competition was fierce with only 10 candidates chosen from a pool of 12,000 applicants.

Alyssa finds tremendous satisfaction meeting with young girls and encouraging them to pursue a career in STEM, and ultimately in space. She hopes by sharing her experiences that she can make a positive impact on them, just as the women she met when she was younger, impacted her.

There are two messages that Alyssa likes to share with anyone based on her experience so far. The first is that you don’t have to wait until college to pursue your interests. It’s better to figure it out early. And the second is to be open to different opportunities. “School teaches you basic things. In space, there are so many non-traditional career opportunities” she says. Alyssa has even written a children’s book, ‘So You Want to Be an Astronaut’ that reinforces this advice.

Who would Alyssa like to meet? “Elon Musk because he’s a cool dude” she says. Alyssa’s eyes light up when she says, “I’m in awe of what he’s accomplishing at SpaceX because they keep breaking their own records and they are adding so much new thinking to the space industry.”

A flight to Mars is expected to be a six week journey if Alyssa’s prediction that the new generation plasma engines will be in place for the inaugural manned mission. If selected, she’s already planned what she’ll take with her. “Of course, I’ll bring some photos of family and friends. I want to bring a soccer ball. I like to play soccer and I think it would be fun. And I’ll also pack my Right Stuff Award that I earned at my very first NASA Space Camp when I was seven. It’s something small but it was the beginning of everything.”

Ms.Carson said that her favorite Louisiana food is Crawfish Étouffée!