Dr. Shawna Pandya

This week was a success because of the team that got us here. It shouldn't surprise me by now, but I remain deeply grateful for the operational excellence & scientific expertise that surrounds us and continues to propel us to newer heights (literally). Thank you 3000. ✨️🫶🏽🛫🛬🛫

Our IIAS-02 research missions & science campaigns are the product of incredible people & partnerships, from our IIAS ground crew, to our partners at NRC Canada, to the 17 incredible collaborating scientists & 12 payloads we tested in parabolic flight this week...

The IIAS-02 down-select week is here! This week, @spacenorah and I will be testing these payloads in 0g together with our collaborators from all over the world at the National Research Council of Canada to see how these payloads fare in a space-like environment. We can't wait! 👩🏻‍🚀👩🏽‍🚀👩🏻‍🚀🛫🛬🛫🍁

Did you know that astronauts travel in packs called a constellation? That's not true, but it should be! One of the joys of events like the International Astronautical Congress and the Karman Project gala is reuniting with astronaut friends new and old! Same time next year? 🌏👩🏽‍🚀🚀✨️🌌

One of my roles at IAC is sitting on the IAF Human Spaceflight Committee. Since joining last year, I've taken on preparing the annual human spaceflight briefing. One of my favorite highlights this year? Sunita Williams setting a new record spacewalk hours by a woman at 62h06min! ✨️👩🏽‍🚀🚀

Photo: IAF

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It was a pleasure to meet with Western Australian Minister for Regional Development, Ports, Science & Innovation & Medical Research Stephen Dawson (right) to discuss how space-based medical & life sciences research benefits life on Earth. Thanks for hosting us! 🇦🇺🚀

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽What do you hide, veggies-wise?

That's a great idea!

The only thing I have going for me is that safflower seeds, walnuts and pecans are a big hit and great for training 🤦🏽‍♀️😅🦜

How do you get Emerald to eat healthy food? Jules bites us if we give her anything remotely healthy. 💀 Diet conversion to pellets was a whole drama unto its own (she was on seeds & people food when she came to us). The only time I ever saw her eat a salad was to steal it because it wasn't for her! 🫣

One of the most meaningful parts of this role is what it means to be a Canadian on a global stage. Thank you to the High Commission of Canada to Australia & the Canadian Space Agency for having me speak on my suborbital research work at IIAS & the many synergies between Canada & Australia. 👩🏽‍🚀🚀✨️

Just read that article today. A tragic case, and an unusual presentation. 💔

It was amazing to see how far we've come - and where we get to go next. Here's to more microgravity-based research - and morre research astronauts. 👩🏽‍🚀🚀✨️

In tandem, over the past year, I have stepped into the role of Executive Director for our IIAS Flight Opportunities Program, the portfolio that covers the curriculum, standards, qualifications, training, and research priorities for our IIAS Research astronauts going forward.

It was an honor to present at IAC 2025 on mission updates for our upcoming IIAS-02 suborbital research mission with the @virgingalactic.bsky.social Delta spacecraft NET 2026, and the science collaboration & research partnerships we have been advancing this past year.

Find yourself the kind of life where you wake up in the morning and ask yourself, "do I really get to do this?!" In my case, "this" refers to building an entire research astronautics program (!!).

Thank you!

I don't always do black tie...but when I do, I go all in.

Had a wonderful time at the The Karman Project Space Peace Prize Gala dinner tonight. Amazing endeavors are afoot. 🚀✨️

#IAC2025 #karmanproject #space #astronaut #sydney #australia

IAC Sydney 2025 is on! Looking forward to presenting my paper on programmatic & mission updates from our upcoming IIAS-02 suborbital research mission & IIAS Flight Opportunities Program.

Come check out my presentation Sept 30 at 1125 in C3.3! 🚀✨️👩🏽‍🚀

There are not many women heading up major space agencies across the world, but the Canadian Space Agency's Lisa Campbell offers so many lessons in strong leadership around intelligence, eloquence & knowledge. What a great example in quiet confidence and competence. 🇨🇦✨️🚀

I'll try harder! 😅🚀🌌

Astronauts versus aliens? By popular demand, I'm back with @setiinstitute.bsky.social CEO Bill Diamond trying to tell him how amazing human spaceflight is...but man is it hard to impress a guy who measures distance not just by light-years...but hundreds of millions of light-years 🤯🌌

One of my roles as a research astronaut is to educate as to the value of space for scientific advancement & return for Earth. It was my honor to write the foreword & help launch the Forrest Research Foundation's Perth Dialogue on The Case for Space. 🚀🌏🌌👩🏽‍🚀

Read it here: share.google/gfLpWYCav09n...

My time here in Perth has been full of highlights, including spending time with the one and only @setiinstitute.bsky.social Institute CEO Bill Diamond...so of course I had to ask him where they hide the aliens. He had something to say in turn... 🤔

This job is an absolute joy, and I count myself extraordinarily lucky to be able to connect with and inspire future space explorers like Jack and Emily through my work. Maybe I'll see you in space someday?

Thank you to the Forrest Research Foundation for organizing this wonderful opportunity. 🚀🏥👩🏽‍🚀✨️

Traveling for 31 hours so far with 7 more to go but I think the smile says it all. Grateful for this job that lets me travel the world that lets me talk science, exploration and innovation across borders, disciplines and cultures. 👩🏽‍🚀🚀✨️

So excited to leverage my background in space medicine to pitch a new concept for this year's @xprize.org Space & Exploration track. Amazing experience to work with an organization that I've admired for so long to catalyze exponential change against grand challenges. 🥰🩺👩🏽‍🚀🚀🏥✨️

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Your friendly doctor-scientist-astronaut here, just to reassure you that I don't just hop on and off planes, sometimes I do meaningful work at my destinations, too. Here is my @xprize.org work explained in 80 seconds. 🌏🚀🏥👩🏽‍🚀✨️

#science #xprize #astronaut #medicine #spacemedicine