Citizen astronaut Aisha Bowe says PH space program ready for lift-off

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientist, tech entrepreneur, and citizen astronaut Aisha Bowe said the Philippines is “already on the path” to sending its first astronaut into space and could achieve it within the next two years.

Bowe was part of a historic all-female crew in Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. She visited Manila this week to share her journey from overcoming self-doubt to conducting NASA-backed research in microgravity.

In a press briefing on Friday, Aug. 16, Bowe said the Philippines has the talent, resources, and partnerships needed to join the new era of commercial spaceflight.

“You already have people who have been training, who are ready and able to go,” Bowe told the press.

“There are no roadblocks - only potential and progress,” she added.

Bowe met with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), students, and educators to discuss the country’s role in space science, agriculture research, and commercial astronaut missions.

She cited PhilSA’s past experiments flown on commercial flights and highlighted opportunities in emerging space markets, where launch frequencies have increased dramatically.

Bowe’s own mission, NS-31, included experiments developed in partnership with the Brazilian Space Agency and Winston-Salem State University, including genetic sequencing of crop plants in microgravity. She emphasized that space agriculture research has direct benefits for food security on Earth.

“If you can grow it in space, you can grow it in challenging environments here,” she said, noting that her research will be presented at an international peer-reviewed conference next month, with participation from a Filipino student she met on a previous trip.

The US State Department global speaker also pointed to robust cooperation between the US and the Philippines, from Fulbright research scholarships to private-sector partnerships. She encouraged the Philippines to leverage these relationships to build capacity in space technology, policy, and entrepreneurship.

Bowe, founder of the Inc. 5000-ranked STEMBoard and creator of the LINGO STEM education platform, said that every field from medicine and agriculture to art and psychology has a place in the space industry.

“There are millions of jobs being created,” she said. “Every field is a space field. Whether you’re a doctor, a geologist, or an artist, there’s a role for you.”

“Fly your first astronaut soon - within the next two years. You can and you will do it, and the world will be watching,” she added.