Training to reach the stars
"Training to become an astronaut not only is a mean to achieve my dream,
but a journey to discovery, to exciting new experiences... a way of living"
My primary motivation to become an astronaut is scientific and social. My main life goal is “breaking barriers to advance our knowledge, technology and make social advances for all humanity”. As a researcher, I work on cutting-edge research exploring ground-breaking methods, collaborating with interdisciplinary and international groups and making science open, transparent and humane. As an experienced teacher in learning disabilities, not only do I guide my students to exploit their full potential in academia, but mainly as individuals living in society. Personally, I break barriers in the air as a Private Pilot in training and water as a scuba diver beginner and former member of the Andalusian Swimming Federation. My next frontier: space.
Private Pilot Training
Being a Private Pilot is not a requirement to become a scientist astronaut but it is crucial if your goal is to command a mission and pilot the shuttle.
Flying has always been one of my deepest passions. Since I was a child I was playing with air plane toys, PC simulators and remote-controlled models. Every time I travelled by plane, I was catching every little detail during the landing and takeoff.
Finally, I have the opportunity to become a private pilot myself! This is one of the most exciting experiences in my life!
Image: myself after my first lesson with LAC Flying School, Manchester.
Scuba Diving
Diving is essential for astronauts because they spend long hours in a big pool in Texas training in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. This laboratory contains a full-size mock-up of the International Space Station!
I share my diving experiences with my partner. We both are lovers of marine nature and we hope to one day witness the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. We both had our diving baptism with Aquatech Dive Centre, Manchester.
Learning Russian
Speaking Russian is extremely important for astronauts because they need to understand their Russian colleagues and to pilot the Soyuz shuttles.
Learning Russian to me is a journey of sharing. In these difficult times where distances seem larger and families and friends seem farther away, I am fortunate to share my learning with my dearest sister, an expert in Slavic philology.
Спасибо большое!!
Other Skills
- First aid training with the British Red Cross and LocuraDeVida.
- Survival and bushcraft training with LocuraDeVida (Aragon, Spain). I am a passionate of nature, natural medicine and crafting using resources around you. Training for survival takes me a bit closer to the adventures of our ancestors and Ayla from the Clan of the Cave Bear.
- Keeping myself fit and healthy. I love swimming and kayaking.
- Climbing and speleology (to-do list). This is important for the astronauts and their CAVE experience.