Dr. Shana Pandya’s father is a native of Kodinar in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat.
‘Even though I live in Canada, I have been raised in a very simple way. I have seen my father working for 15 hours daily at home. Mother has also worked very hard. There is an atmosphere of Gujju all day at home in Canada.
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I worship every day, go to the temple, celebrate all Indian festivals. Now, before I go into space, I want Sunita Williams Didi return to safe earth so that we can meet each other. After all, both of us are Pandya daughters … ‘
These words are Dr. Shaona Pandya who is the first commercial female astronaut of Canada. Shaona is a doctor (MD, Physician) by profession and is going to fly into space at the end of 2026. She will be another Gujarati after Sunita Williams who is going to go into space. His father is originally from Kodinar in Gujarat.
We talked to him …
Family reached Canada via Mumbai via Codeinar
Dr. Shaona began talks in Gujarati -English tone. He was born in Canada, but my father is originally from Kodinar in Gir Somnath district in Gujarat and my mother is from Mumbai. Dad graduated from Mumbai. He then worked as a physiotherapist at the codeinar, but after some time he moved to Mumbai for a job. Then they met my mother and both got married.
Shortly after marriage, the mother got an office manager’s job in Canada, so both of them moved to Canada. Father came to Canada and started his physiotherapy clinic. Initially, when he went to Canada, he faced a lot of difficulties. Initially, Dad used to work for 15 hours from 7 am to 10 pm. Therefore, I have been taught to work hard since childhood.
Both my parents are staunch Gujarati, so there was always a Gujarati atmosphere in the house. We still come to visit Mumbai every five years. Apart from this, we also go to Gujarat to attend a function like marriage.
This is my dream
Regarding becoming an astronaut, Shaona says, ‘I had a dream since childhood. Even when I was young, I used to read the biographies and books of astronauts. At that time, Canada’s first female astronaut Roberta Bondar went to space. I was very inspired by them. I also decided that I will also study medicine like Bondar, I will become a neurocystist, and then become an astronaut.
After completing college, I earned a master’s degree from the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences. After the Masters, I did 3 months internship at the European Space Agency. Then I decided that now I will only work on space medicine.
‘As a woman, I had to face a lot of difficulties’
We have heard that Canada has a lot of racism, so have you ever faced racism? Shaona says, “I have been a victim of not only racism, but also sexualism in Canada.” It is very difficult for a woman to move so much in this area. Even today, I tell someone, ‘Namaste, I see Dr. Pandya and people see me with surprise. We are in 2025 and yet people still do not believe that a female can become a doctor.
Amidst all this, I will go into space with ‘Virgin Galactic’ before 2026. I am the only woman in a team of five astronauts. So it is a matter of great pride for me.
What will she do when Shaonaben goes to space?
What is the main objective of the project you are going to work on? Talking about this, Shaona says, ‘We will go to space in the Virgin Galactic commercial spaceship’ Delta-Class’ by the end of 2026 with IIAS (International Institute for Astronautical Sciences). We three space researchers are working on this project.
This spacecraft can visit 2 pilots and 6 researchers. I have been selected for the IIAS02 mission. I have to research the health of women of crew (crew) there. We will experiment related to their neurological and health technology. This can cause health benefits to astronauts in future.
What is your day as a research astronaut?
Shaona says, ‘I focus on space medicine all day. But my two days are not the same. One day you have to do research in the lab, the next day you have to work on space therapy, the next day you have to check the operation of flight as a astronaut, and the next day you have to see patients as a physician. Because I am also a doctor. I am very busy but I like it all.
Along with all these other achievements, I am currently working as the director of the Space Medical Group of the Institute of International Space Sciences. Where our space medical research is going on. Along with this, we are going to use medicine on humans in space for the first time. Apart from this, I am also working with the National Research Institute Canada.
Will space tourism become popular in the current era?
If you are going to visit space commercially also, do you think that space tourism will become popular in the current era? “People are now going into space in some way or the other, because commercial companies can go there,” says Shaona.
Some people want to go as a tourist to experience zero gravity of space and see the earth from outside, some want to go for competition, and some for research. We can definitely say that space tourism will be very easy in the near future.
There will be 90 minutes of passenger
Shaona reported that her spacecraft would be launched from a spaceport in the US state of New Mexico and will go to an altitude of 80 to 88 km. NASA has defined that line as the range between space and the Earth. From flying from Earth to landing on Earth, the entire journey will take 90 minutes.
In which we will also experience zero gravity and vacuum for a few minutes, where people who come for research will do their work and people who come for tourism will also see beautiful views of the earth from there.
Dr. Sheena will go to space in the galactic spaceship. It can visit 2 crew members and 4 researchers.
I would also like to work with ISRO
Are you aware of ISRO’s Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan projects? Shaona says, ‘Both projects are very exciting. When I look at ISRO’s projects, I am very happy to be an Indian. I am happy to know that now India will also send humans to space. I am waiting when Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly in Gaganyaan. If I get a chance, I would like to work with ISRO in future. ‘
Do you have any Gujarati or Indian spirit that helped you reach here?
Shaona says, ‘Yes, of course, I have the ability to work hard like an Indian, but with all this, I am very connected to my family. No matter how old I am, I will never stop supporting my family. Which is seen only in us Indians.
I have been raised according to Gujarati customs, so I do all the work including worshiping, going to the temple and celebrating Navratri. Diwali, Holi and Navratri are my favorite festivals. Jalebi is very much liked in food.
Stop the madness of going to America-Canada.
You must know that Indians can go to any extent to go to Canada and America and recently the US has also drove back many such intruders. What would you like to say about them? Does going there really change your life? Shaona says, “This is nothing, if you have a passion to work, then you will be successful anywhere, whether you live in India or in any other country.” Stay where you are and focus on your work.
The madness of going to America-Canada should stop.
What is the purpose of medical research in space?
If you are from the medical field, how can you be useful in that field? Dr. Shona says, ‘When we go into space, the biggest change occurs in our body. Many diseases also occur. To keep humans safe from all this, we need medicine in space. In addition, a lot of treatment is required to survive in space and avoid high radiation and other things.
Only 12-15% female astronauts in the world
Dr. Shaona says, ‘I would like to be recognized as a Gujarati female astronaut instead of Canada’s first professional female astronaut. I especially want to tell girls that if you are first in something, never be afraid. Start come. Only 12–15% of astronauts in the world are women. But I did this and now you can see where I am. Whether you are in any field, you can go into space. We still have to take many women into space.
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