Alyssa Carson on Astrobiology, Mars & Becoming an Astronaut

Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise, and joining us today is Alyssa Carson, astrobiologist and aspiring astronaut. It’s such an honor to have you here. Hi, Alyssa.

Alyssa Carson: Thank you so much for having me.

Susan Wise: Well, I’d like to hear more about you—an aspiring astronaut, that’s amazing! And also, what you’re currently working on to further the space industry.

Alyssa Carson: Yeah. You know, ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always had an interest in space and a desire to work in the space industry one day. That interest obviously stemmed from being able to see astronauts and…

Susan Wise: …get to meet them.

Alyssa Carson: …and talk to them. As I slowly figured out what I was most interested in, I ended up in the field of astrobiology, which is so exciting and also such a cool and niche area of the space and science industry. Currently, I am in my third year of my PhD, working in space and planetary science, and all of my research is centered around astrobiology.

It’s been really exciting to explore the research side of things and get more involved in scientific work. It’s definitely an avenue I’d love to pursue as a career. Honestly, being able to add little pieces to the puzzle of these big questions we have about space is incredibly rewarding. Right now, I’m focused on potential signs of past life on Mars. There’s been a lot of fascination with life on Mars, and we’re slowly piecing together the puzzle.

I do work testing organisms to see if they could survive Martian climates, soils, or different environmental conditions—basically testing the limits of what we currently know. There are so many questions, especially as we gather more data from Mars rovers or maybe even people there one day. Slowly, we’re figuring out the pieces, and that’s been the most exciting part so far: contributing to that puzzle.

Susan Wise: That is exciting. And of course, our sights are set on the Moon again, and eventually preparing for Mars—looking for signs of life, and hopefully sending humans there would be the ultimate goal, right?

Alyssa Carson: Yeah. I definitely think those are the next steps in the space industry. There’s been so much progress building towards deeper space travel, moving beyond Earth orbit, returning to the Moon, and long-term plans for a mission to Mars.

It’s exciting to see, and also inspiring for the next generation of kids. Students have heard about going to the Moon for decades, and there’s always public excitement about it. Reviving that excitement will be really empowering, especially for young people.

Susan Wise: I love hearing your story, Alyssa. What has been one of your biggest “aha” moments?

Alyssa Carson: I think I’ve just been so inspired by the people I’ve met and the opportunities that have come with that. I’ve been able to do things I never imagined possible. For example, being involved in research from an early age was amazing. Working with IIAS on citizen science research when I was younger was super cool and definitely full of “aha” moments.

Being able to work with real spacesuits, participate in microgravity flights, and be part of expeditions was both exciting and reassuring, because it had a scientific objective. It wasn’t just for fun; there was a greater goal. Learning about the science and all the components behind it really fueled my interest in research.

Aside from that, speaking with kids has been incredibly rewarding. Anytime I can be a voice for students interested in space, and they come up afterward saying, “I want to be an astronaut now,” or “I want to work in the space industry,” those are all “aha” moments. It shows the impact of teaching kids about space careers—they often don’t realize the variety beyond astronaut, scientist, or engineer. Sharing these opportunities helps them see there’s so much more out there.

Susan Wise: It’s exciting to get kids excited about it. And I know your journey hasn’t come without challenges—they’re always opportunities to grow. What has been one of your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome it?

Alyssa Carson: For someone with a big dream from an early age, there’s always the challenge of setting expectations and building smaller goals. Wanting to work in the space industry as a toddler isn’t going to happen overnight—it takes a lot of time and hard work.

For me, balancing school and different opportunities I was interested in was also challenging. Learning to prioritize and find a balance between my interests and commitments was important, especially transitioning from high school to college, and later from undergrad to a PhD program. Each stage required constant adjustment to keep building toward my goals while maintaining balance.

Some experiences were physically demanding, too. One of the most challenging was water survival training. We were testing spacesuits in emergency situations—getting out of a capsule, swimming, inflating life rafts, all while wearing heavy suits. It was physically tough, and we had to do many tasks individually. Those experiences pushed me academically, physically, and mentally, and they taught me a lot about myself.

Susan Wise: Absolutely. Big challenges give you a chance to learn. You started young—what kind of support did you have from family and friends?

Alyssa Carson: When I first became interested in space, my family was very supportive, even though they didn’t know it would turn into a long-term pursuit. My dad was especially helpful, finding books, videos, and information about space. Even though no one in my family had a science or engineering background, he did his best to support me. For example, when I came home with a brochure for Space Camp, he immediately looked into it.

Susan Wise: Where did that spark come from, that inspired you to say, “This is what I want to do”?

Alyssa Carson: My dad remembers me asking all sorts of questions about space: “Is space real? Did we go to the Moon?” The best guess we have for where I learned words like “space” is from the TV show The Backyardigans. There was a “Mission to Mars” episode where the characters flew a space shuttle to Mars and did experiments. I had a poster of that episode in my room for a long time. Once I started asking questions, my interest snowballed—the more I learned about space, the more I wanted to learn.

Susan Wise: Your enthusiasm is infectious—I can feel how excited you are! Before we wrap up, do you have any advice for our listeners?

Alyssa Carson: Definitely. Always follow your dreams and don’t let anyone take them away from you. It’s important, especially for the next generation, to know that it doesn’t matter what anyone else says about your interests. If it’s something you want to do, you can achieve it. It takes hard work, and you might change your mind along the way, but stick to your gut—you know yourself better than anyone else. Go after those big dreams. When I was a kid saying I wanted to become an astronaut and maybe go to Mars one day, it sounded crazy—but I’m working hard and achieving my goals, so it’s always possible.

Susan Wise: We’re watching your story unfold, and I feel confident you’re going to achieve your goals. Do you have any past or present passion projects you’d like to mention?

Alyssa Carson: My passion projects have always focused on communication and teaching people about space—both young and old. I love showing kids the opportunities available in space, but even adults can benefit. Space is fascinating, but many people don’t know the extent of the industry, the opportunities, or the cool stuff we do—like bringing asteroid samples back to Earth. Sharing that knowledge with the public has always been a passion of mine.

Susan Wise: Thank you so much for sharing your story, Alyssa Carson, astrobiologist and aspiring astronaut. Thank you again for joining us on Stars Launch Pod.

Alyssa Carson: Thanks!

Susan Wise: Be sure to join us at StarSciences.org to receive a free one-year membership—just enter the promo code FRIENDS321. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe. Until next time, keep looking up!