"I tackled them all with bravery and determination."
Pakistan’s first female astronaut Namira Salim is preparing for a historic journey into space, which takes place on October 5, 2023.
Namira spoke of her passion for space travel and revealed that this was a passion she has harboured since childhood.
She said: “I have always been fascinated by the mysteries of the cosmos and I dreamed of becoming an astronaut from a very young age.
“I faced many challenges but I tackled them all with bravery and determination.”
In a message to women around the world, Namira urged them to pursue their dreams.
After she posted a snippet of an article on her Instagram, Namira was inundated with messages of congratulations, and many social media users said they were proud of her.
One individual wrote: “More power to you ma’am.”
Another wrote:
“Make us proud Namira, the whole nation is praying for you.”
Namira’s journey into space is the pinnacle of her astounding career, having been a part of the field for over 25 years.
She has continued to shine bright and contributed to making Pakistan proud of her efforts.
She has previously hoisted the national flag in both the North and South Poles.
Her journey into space has been a long time coming.
Namira Salim officially became an astronaut in 2006 when she bought a ticket for a commercial space flight. She has waited 17 long years for this historic journey.
It was reported that she was selected for the space journey from a list of 100 others.
In 2008, Namira challenged herself by opting to skydive from Mount Everest.
Namira was born in Karachi in 1975.
She obtained a master’s degree in International Relations from Columbia University.
She moved to Monaco in 1997 in order to pursue her love for exploring and adventure.
Apart from her love for space, Namira is an artist, poet and musician. She also advocates space tourism.
Her artistic flair highlights her creativity and showcases another side to her multi-talented personality.
Namira has been known to have collaborated with the Virgin Group where she promotes space tourism, and has partnered with Virgin Galactic in a bid to spread her passion for space by introducing others to it.
She was awarded the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Award in 2011, the Power 100 Trailblazer Award in 2013, and the Femina Middle East Women Award in 2016.
Namira will travel to the United States for the landmark space journey.
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