Suhana: An Out of This World "Her Talks" with Priya Abiram

For our 24th Her League Event on February 3, 2023, we were joined by a very special guest speaker, Priya Abiram. Priya is a current freshman at Cornell University and a NASA astronaut candidate. She is also a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, a pilot, scuba diver, Boeing company intern, published researcher and a bioastronautics researcher. 

BY SUHANA KUMAR
STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL
HER LEAGUE COACH & HER NEWS COLUMNIST

Priya Abiram

For our 24th Her League Event on February 3, 2023. we were joined by Priya Abiram. Priya is a current freshman at Cornell University. Priya has been interested in space exploration and space from a young age; she shared that her love for the topic was sparked by her visit to a museum, where she observed large rockets. She explained that, later that day, she met an astronaut and thought “well, if he can do it, why can't I?” She is also a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, a pilot, scuba diver, Boeing company intern, published researcher and a bioastronautics researcher at the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences. Priya shared with us her process of training for space exploration, which necessitated that she pass multiple tests and be put in very physically challenging situations.

Priya Abiram

Later, Priya answered questions asked by our fellow members and our emcee. 

Below is a summary of Priya’s answers, including a combination of direct and indirect quotes. The paragraphs follow in chronological order of the Q&A!

Priya first became interested in Aerospace technology and becoming an astronaut at the age of 7, when she visited the Candy Space Center, as explained above. She added that the exciting journey has become even more special because there are so many more opportunities within the aerospace industry and we, as young Her Move Next members, are the next generation to lead the future.  

Priya entailed the challenges and requirements of becoming an astronaut but said that it's very inspiring to reach unknown corners. A personal goal of hers is to contribute to the colonization of Mars, creating “spin-offs” to help people and benefit life on Earth. We learned that chemotherapy, LED lights and other ‘smaller’ scale discoveries all came from rocket and space exploration, and that Priya is excited to be a part of smaller yet beneficial findings.

When asked about what it's like to be in space, Priya said that she has never been to space but has done a lot of simulations, working with a brave group of people. She mentioned that this training helped her overcome fears of the dark, especially as only some of her co-workers were afraid of the dark, and become a better person!

Having interned with NASA, Priya was able to talk to our members about what NASA is: the American space organization. She said, “there are lots of very cool centers, and I definitely recommend them. NASA was also responsible for the launch of Artemis I, which had the goal to send the first female to the moon and the person of color to the moon.” Moreover, as a NASA intern, Priya “[does] crop research on the moon, growing foods and learning.”

Priya also presented research in Paris in September of 2022 at an aerospace industry conference, where she met Bill Nye (the science guy!) and many CEOs. Here, she won her biggest award: a silver medal in the undergraduates section.

Priya was asked about her favorites, in a wide category of things. When asked about her favorite memory of going to space, she answered that she hasn't gone yet, but is training towards it. Her favorite food is chocolate and her favorite place is Paris, France.

When asked how long it takes to study and how she began her work, Priya explained her process from a young age. After trying out multiple different clubs in middle school, she solidified on space and thought it was the “coolest place.” At 14 years old, she earned a private pilot license at a local airport. She later created an entire space course program that she helped make the syllabus for, supervise and hold a conference for. Soon after, she got grants from national headquarters, allowing for her program to be used by high schools all over the nation. 

She encouraged the Her Move Next audience that “[they], too, could create a program to help bring people together and provide them (people) with an opportunity.” This all led up to her college and professional life, which she balances because “space helps [her] mentally reset and rockets keep [her] happy so it never feels like work.” To end our questionnaire session, Priya shared a piece of advice she would give to someone: “You will never be good enough unless you start somewhere.”

Later, Priya shared with us clips from her astronaut training. She explained that she did astronaut training, microgravity training, and practiced daily functions in a very big and bulky space suit. In the water, she trained for a crash simulation, practicing for system failures. In the specific video she showed us, Priya was buckled in with a harness at 5 points, blind folded, and caged in with 2 glass sides that she had to break herself out of. It was fascinating and engaging to watch!

Her Move Next hopes Her League members, coaches and mentors had fun and learned a lot from Priya’s visit!