Interview by Despina Dimotsi. Issue 5 – Summer 2024!
Dr. Vanessa Farsadaki is an American of Greek descent – specifically from Pylos, Crete, Karpathos, and Skopelos. She lives and works in Houston, Texas, as a Space Health consultant, focusing on Space Medicine Ethics. She is on a promising path to becoming Greece’s first female astronaut in history. She is the President and Managing Partner of Space Exploration Strategies LLC. Her fields of study include Biology, Genetics, Business, Astronomy, and Astrophysics, with a dissertation on the atmosphere of exoplanets. She also has a Medical degree with a dissertation on radiation protection legislation for pilots and astronauts and postdoctoral research at Baylor College of Medicine in collaboration with NASA’s Genetic Radiation Protection Program.
She has authored and co-authored numerous articles supporting progress in her field, and her expertise in exposure and radiation protection sciences has made her a sought-after consultant for high-level programs. Dr. Farsadaki speaks 18 languages, 11 of which she is highly proficient in, demonstrating her ability to interact with a wide audience. Her native languages are Greek, English, and French, and she is also fluent in Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, and Mandarin. She has mastered 2-3 of the most difficult languages and scripts on the planet, which have ancient origins.
DD: Having a broad range of studies, how did you manage to excel in all these fields, given their high demands?
VF: Passion and love for knowledge have always driven me and continue to do so. The goal of space was always present, but the concepts I now serve emerged along the way. I was fortunate in three things: 1. Being born Greek-American, 2. Having a great educator as a mother, and 3. Realizing early on the gap in Space Medicine. Everything else has come and continues to come through hard work.
DD: What inspired you to pursue space in general? Was there a person who encouraged you in this direction?
VF: Having childhood memories of the starry sky from summers in Greece and inspiration from a high school teacher, I realized my love for space early on. However, no one urged me to pursue studies or a career in this field. It was one of the toughest decisions of my life to leave clinical medicine and follow something that didn’t even exist. I heard many times that “I would make a mistake” and that “I would regret it.” But the voice inside me was stronger, and being confident in my knowledge and skills to some extent, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. Since then, I have made many decisions that would scare many, but I am getting better at it as drastic decisions no longer frighten me as much.
DD: As a high school student, I remember having an “Astronomy” class in my second year of General High School. How important is it for students, in general, to be exposed to the beauty of Astronomy from an early age? Are there similar courses in America? If so, at what grade level?
VF: Due to my mother’s job, I changed 11 educational systems in 12 years of schooling. So you might not be asking the right person… ☺ I can tell you that in none of the schools I attended did we have astronomy classes. Even the advanced physics I took in high school was more mechanical than anything else. As the space sector opens up and more companies include space in their strategy, the job market will demand employees who can meet these needs. With this in mind, programs have already started in the USA and other countries for children of all ages. Recently, the National Space Society (NSS) donated telescopes to over 100 middle schools nationwide to raise students’ awareness of Astronomy.
DD: What is “Space Health” as a specialty?
VF: Space Health is not yet a medical specialty (currently). Aviation Medicine is a specialty. In Greece, it is offered at the excellent Air Force Academy, while in America, one can complete it either as a military member (Air Force or Navy) or as a civilian, as a second specialty. What is currently called “Space Medicine” primarily involves Aviation Medicine dealing with astronauts.
DD: Given the dangers of radiation for astronauts, what has changed today compared to the first astronauts, and what do you foresee changing in the future to reduce their health problems?
VF: Radiation protection for astronauts has not changed in the last 60 years. Today, there are ways for partial protection, which, however, are based on changing the quality of radiation exposure (at the particle level) and not the quantity. In other words, the amount an astronaut is exposed to remains the same, as if they had no protection. In the coming years, as more people travel to space, whether for tourism or work, radiation-protective drugs that utilize the existing radiation-protective part of our DNA will be available. Additionally, radiation-protective materials will be used to build space stations and space transport vehicles.
DD: What are the chances of an “Ocean Gate” type accident happening in space, similar to what happened at sea?
VF: Exploration has always had its risks. Since the time of explorers like Columbus, Magellan, and Marco Polo, two things were certain: strong funding was needed, and it was uncertain whether people would return. Specifically, regarding accidents due to mechanical problems, three have already occurred: one during the Apollo program and two during the Shuttle program. In the future, I foresee accidents happening in space, less frequently than aviation accidents.
DD: We have been hearing about colonies on Mars for many years. When do you predict they will become a reality, and how difficult will it be to overcome all the problems that will arise given the different conditions from Earth?
VF: Before talking about Mars, we must discuss the Moon. Lunar colonies will be necessary before we reach Mars. The Earth-Mars distance is such that a stop for resupply on the Moon will be required. NASA wanted to send a manned mission to Mars by 2039. Elon Musk has stated he will achieve the same mission by 2034. Both are currently unthinkable given the current situation. The fact that NASA is sending humans back to the Moon in 2025 is already a significant achievement with today’s standards.
DD: Do you have any activities that relax you from such a difficult and demanding job? If you were to choose a completely different profession, what would it be and why?
VF: The concept of time has always fascinated me – which is why I wanted to pursue Astrophysics. While living in Switzerland, I was fortunate enough to work in the watchmaking industry. If I had to choose something different, I would choose horology. Today, in my (very little) free time, I enjoy collecting art and especially watches.
DD: I am amazed, because I love them, by how you learned so many languages, how you remember and distinguish them. Which language did you start with and how did you reach the magical number 18?
VF: I am glad to hear you love languages! Ideally, we are all “programmed” to love them. A teacher who does not inspire or a teaching system that does not adapt to individual needs can convince someone that they either love languages or are not good at them. Neuroscientifically speaking, one can deeply learn a language until the age of 12; after that, one can only come close to understanding the language’s mindset.I was born in a trilingual environment, hence the three native languages. I remember when I was 9 years old, passing by a Russian bookstore with my mother. I told her I was impressed by the script and asked if we could go inside. It was the day I got my first Russian fairy tales (even though I couldn’t read Russian) and a phone number. This phone number belonged to the Russian teacher who, after three months of playing on the carpet in my room and realizing I could already communicate comfortably in the language, would tell my mother I had a talent for languages. After Russian, I started a new language every six months. Now I have stopped adding new ones, but I enjoy maintaining those I already learn and setting goals every six months, like obtaining language certifications.
DD: What project are you currently working on?
VF: I am currently working mainly on integrating international relations and space strategy for my company. After many discussions with companies from Greece and throughout Europe, I realized there is a great need for a program that acts as a “bridge” between the European and American markets. The space sector may be relatively new for Europe, but it is already lucrative in America. Any company can be useful to the space economy, and the American market is the right environment for the modern development of any company. We already have clients, including major pharmaceutical companies and small medical materials or technology companies that have realized the profitable environment of the space sector and wish to transition to the American market.
DD: Tell us about your vision of being “The first Greek woman to be part of a crewed mission in space.”
VF: To be honest, I don’t care if I am the first, as long as I am not the last! Many articles support that I want to be “first,” but that’s not the pure truth. What I have always wanted by traveling to space is to represent Greece. When I travel, for scientific research, I want my suit to bear both the American and Greek flags.