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 space enthusiast who is famous for her dream of being the first person to walk on Mars. From a young age, she has been passionate about space.
Alyssa has attended many space camps and visited every NASA visitor center in the United States. She uses the nickname NASABlueberry on social media. However, it's important to know that NASA has said she is not officially connected with them or any space program.
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A Dream to Explore Space
Alyssa was born in Hammond, Louisiana. When she was just seven years old, she went to her first space camp in Alabama. She loved it so much that she kept going back.
She is the only person to have attended every NASA space camp, including camps in Turkey and Canada. At one of these camps, she chose the call sign "Blueberry," which she still uses today.
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Special Training and Skills
Alyssa's passion for space led her to get special training. At 15, she was the youngest person accepted into the Advanced PoSSUM Space Academy. This is a program for students interested in learning about space science.
By the time she was 18, Alyssa had earned her pilot's license. Her training also included:
- Water survival skills
- Handling high G-forces (the force of gravity and acceleration)
- Flying in microgravity (feeling weightless)
- Getting a scuba diving certification
She told Teen Vogue magazine about her big dream. She said she wanted to "become an astronaut, go to Mars, come back, and then be a teacher or the president."
Education and Studies
Alyssa graduated from the Baton Rouge International School. In 2023, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in astrobiology from the Florida Institute of Technology. Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe.
Currently, she is studying for a Ph.D. in biology at the University of Arkansas. She also helps teach a microbiology lab class to undergraduate students.
In the Public Eye
Alyssa's story has been featured in the media many times. In 2013, she became the first person to complete the "NASA Passport Program." This meant she visited all 14 of NASA's visitor centers.
Because of her passion, she was invited to speak at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She has also appeared on TV shows like the Steve Harvey show and in the 2017 documentary The Mars Generation.
Alyssa has worked with several companies to promote products related to space and science. She has also written two books about her journey and her dream of becoming an astronaut.
Is She an "Astronaut in Training"?
Many news stories have called Alyssa an "astronaut in training." This has caused some confusion.
NASA has made it clear that they do not have any official connection with Alyssa Carson. They stated that she is not part of their astronaut program. News sources like Newsweek and the fact-checking website Snopes have also clarified that her training is not part of an official NASA program.
While she is preparing for a future in space, she is not currently being trained by a national space agency to become an astronaut.
Awards and Recognition
Alyssa has received several awards for her passion and hard work.
- In 2017, she was named a Louisiana Young Hero by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
- In 2019, she received the Esprit de Femme Award from Louisiana State University, becoming its youngest winner.
- In 2020, Louisiana Life magazine named her a Louisianan of the Year in the science category.
See also
- Hayley Arceneaux youngest person to have orbited the Earth.
- Oliver Daemen youngest person to travel to space.
