Alyssa Carson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alyssa Carson
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Alyssa Carson in 2015
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| Born | March 10, 2001 Hammond, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Known for | Space enthusiasm |
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| Fields | Biology |
| Institutions | University of Arkansas |
| Doctoral advisor | Timothy Kral |
Alyssa Carson (born March 10, 2001) is an American who loves space! From a young age, she has dreamed of being the first person to walk on Mars. She has gone to many space camps and visited every NASA visitor center. On social media, she uses the name NASABlueberry. However, NASA has said that she is not officially connected to them or any space program.
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Early Life and Space Dreams
Alyssa Carson was born on March 10, 2001, in Hammond, Louisiana. She has traveled to many countries and can speak English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Space Camp Adventures
When Alyssa was seven, she went to her first space camp in Huntsville, Alabama. She loved it so much that she went to six more! She is the only person to have attended every NASA space camp. This includes camps in Turkey and Canada. At space camp, she got the nickname "Blueberry."
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Advanced Space Training
At 16, Alyssa became the youngest person chosen for the Advanced PoSSUM Space Academy. This program teaches high school and college students about space. It was developed by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences.
When she was 18, Alyssa earned her pilot's license. Her training also includes learning how to survive in water. She has practiced in microgravity flights and learned about g-force. She also has a scuba diving license. Alyssa once told Teen Vogue that she always thought she would "become an astronaut, go to Mars, come back, and then be a teacher or the president."
Education and Learning
Alyssa graduated from Baton Rouge International School. This is a private school.
College Studies
In 2023, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in astrobiology. She studied at the Florida Institute of Technology. Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe.
She is now working on her advanced degree at the University of Arkansas. She is studying biology there. She also helps teach a class about tiny living things called microbes.
Media and Social Influence
In 2013, Alyssa was the first person to complete the "NASA Passport Program." This meant she visited all fourteen of NASA's visitor centers across nine states. After this, she was invited to speak at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Featured in Media
When she was 13, the BBC featured her because of her dream to be the first person on Mars. She was also called the "Youngest Female Groundbreaker" on the Steve Harvey talk show. In 2017, she was in a documentary called The Mars Generation.
Alyssa has appeared on TV shows like Ryan's Mystery Playdate. She is often interviewed about her goal of becoming an astronaut. She has worked with companies on space-related products. For example, she helped test a spacesuit. She also promotes shoes for Nike and home products for SodaStream. She works with fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Bulgari.
Books and Social Media
Alyssa has written two books. The first, So, You Want to Be an Astronaut, came out in 2018. Her second book, Ready for Liftoff: Becoming an Astronaut of the Mars Generation, was published in 2022. She has also written for The Independent newspaper.
Alyssa has many followers on her Instagram and Twitter (X) accounts.
Important Clarification: Not a NASA Astronaut
Sometimes, the media calls Alyssa an "astronaut in training." However, it is important to know that Alyssa Carson is not officially part of any national space program. NASA has clearly stated that they "have no official ties to Alyssa Carson." They also said that even though she uses "NASA" in her social media names, they are not connected to her at all. A website called Snopes has also explained this. They say: "Carson is not in training with—or being prepped by—NASA to become an astronaut."
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Alyssa was named one of nine Louisiana Young Heroes. This award is given to amazing high school students. In 2019, she received the Esprit de Femme Award from Louisiana State University. She is the youngest person to ever receive this award. In 2020, Louisiana Life magazine honored her as a "Louisianan of the Year" in the science category.
See also
- Hayley Arceneaux youngest American to reach orbital space Earth
- Cameron Bess youngest American to travel to space
