Dr. Eiman Jahangir, Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University and cardio-oncologist, is set to fulfill his lifelong dream of spaceflight after being selected as a Future MoonDAO astronaut. With over 15 years dedicated to medicine and space exploration, Jahangir’s journey exemplifies the diverse paths to becoming an astronaut.
Upon learning of his selection, Jahangir recalled his elation in a recent interview: “I was thoroughly stoked as you can imagine because it’s been something I’ve been working for 20 years. I was jumping up and down.” This achievement marks the culmination of years of perseverance, including twice being a finalist for NASA’s Astronaut Candidate program.
Jahangir’s fascination with space and medicine began in childhood, leading him to pursue a unique career combining both passions.
“I think that it’s important for people to follow whatever they’re passionate about that is not being an astronaut because often times you can imagine you can work hard and if your only goal is to be an astronaut then it’s a very likely goal that you might get disappointed,” Jahangir said, emphasizing the importance of following one’s interests.
As a cardio-oncologist, Jahangir’s work unexpectedly aligns with space medicine. He said that there are many similarities between the radiation exposure experienced by cancer patients and what astronauts encounter in space, noting that the radiation astronauts receive in a shorter time frame is comparable to that experienced by cancer patients.
Looking to the future of space medicine, Jahangir is optimistic about the potential for groundbreaking discoveries: “I think we’re going to be surprised. I think we’re going to go up there and say okay we’re going to get really good at ultrasound imaging or we’re going to do biomedical research and we’re going to see that maybe organs grow better in microgravity.”
Jahangir’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring space professionals, demonstrating that diverse backgrounds can lead to extraordinary opportunities in the aerospace industry. His upcoming spaceflight with MoonDAO not only fulfills a personal dream but also contributes to advancing our understanding of space medicine and human exploration beyond Earth.
Featured image: Credit: Eiman Jahangir
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