‘Space makes my DNA’ – Namira Salim

Marking a long journey from naught to astronaut, Namira Salim is going to become the first Pakistani as well as the first South Asian woman astronaut heading into space this year

Originally from Pakistan but based in Monaco since 1997, Namira Salim is a woman of many talents and passions and is now all-set to become the first Pakistani as well as the first South Asian woman astronaut heading into space.

In March 2006, Sir Richard Branson, who is the Chairman of the Virgin Group, a British multinational venture capital conglomerate, introduced Namira Salim to the international media as one of the earliest founders and future astronauts of the American spaceflight company Virgin Galactic. Headquartered in California, the company was founded in 2004 by Richard Branson and his British Virgin Group. In August 2006, the then Pakistan  Government officially called Namira as the ‘First Pakistani Astronaut,’ in October 2007, she successfully completed her spaceflight training in the United States. After waiting almost two decades since joining Virgin Galactic, which saw the evolution and development of the Virgin Galactic commercial spaceship fleet, Namira has just been announced as Astronaut No. 6 by Sir Richard Branson and will be heading into space on one of the first flights of Virgin Galactic this year.

In November 2015, Namira established ‘Space Trust,’ a non-profit organization, to promote space as the new frontier for peace. Since then, she has, engaged ten governments and ten former and sitting heads of state to promote space as a sustainable tool for peace on Earth on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York. In her interview with BOLD, Namira Salim talks about her inspiring journey and future plans.

 BOLD: You’re the first Pakistani to reach the North and South Poles. Could you walk us through that experience?

Namira Salim: I became the first Pakistani to reach both the North and South Poles in 2007 and 2008, hoisting the green flag along with a universal peace flag.

North Pole was my first experience on ice and thus, it was more of a step into the unknown. The ice runway broke at the Ice Camp at 89 degrees North, a point in the Arctic Ocean, due to bad weather conditions. We were was stuck in the Svalbard Islands of Norway, waiting to embark on the expedition until the ice runway was reconstructed. I spent one night at the Ice Camp, which was a global hub for all adventurers..

We took off for the North Pole from here, which was a short helicopter ride. The ice at the Geographic North Pole is always moving, so I had to keep track of 90 Degrees North, with my GPS to be able to plant the Pakistani flag, my peace flag and the flags of my adopted countries, the UAE and Monaco. I achieved this on April 17, 2007, which was declared as the International Polar Year (IPY).

Before proceeding to the South Pole in January 2007, I flew to Punta Arenas, in Chile, and  it was from where that our expedition took off for the Ice Camp at 80 degrees South in the heart of the Antarctic, which is the coldest, windiest and driest continent of the world. There is no life there, and it seemed like we were on a different planet. I took special gear which was designed for the Arctic environment. The environment resembled that in the Arctic region and the North Pole Ice Camp except that the ice was more solid not moving. The environment was definitely more hostile, and we experienced constant snow storms that led to whiteouts with zero visibility, and wild winds.

Once the weather cleared, we proceeded to the South Pole where we were received at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

At the end of this tour, I proceeded to the South Pole at 90 degrees South, where due to -35 degrees’ temperature with the wind chill factor, I was teary-eyed and could barely breathe. It was bitter and fiercely cold, as compared to the North Pole. I raised the national flag, my adopted countries’ flags and my peace flag on January 10, 2008.

How did you prepare yourself for both expeditions?

Though I was regular at gym, the most challenging thing was to get myself ready for the tough weather conditions both at the North and South Poles. I went there as an Honorary Ambassador of Tourism for Pakistan, and my mission was to raise the national flag as well as the peace flag at the top and bottom of the world.

Do you follow a specific exercise and diet routine?

Yes, I  exercise regularly, while swimming is an inevitable part of my life. Also, I follow an alkaline diet based on juices, greens and organic foods.

How did you prepare yourself for the First Everest Skydive 2008?

When I was at the South Pole, I was motivated by other global explorers who were climbing the Mount Everest. I started looking into ways to do the same but one day, I heard about the First Everest Skydive 2008, which was more exhilarating than climbing the Everest. However, being the First Everest Skydives in history, it didn’t come without challenges. It was a late monsoon in Nepal. While I trekked for around 10,000 feet in the Sagarmatha Park of the Himalayas, alongside the Doodh Koshy valley, the monsoon caused dark clouds to take over the drop zone every morning, delaying the skydive programme and causing a plane crash killing 17 Swiss adventurers, as well as causing one of the fellow jumpers to crash into the rocks.

It was hard to stick it out under these circumstances as it made my mother very upset.  However, I stuck it out until the end. My skydive was the last lift of the programme, which I cherish to this day as the weather was magnificent and the skydive went perfectly. I opened the door of the plane and was the first to take the plunge with my instructor! I was free falling at the speed of 158 mph, but it seemed like I was suspended in thin air due to no relative distance or objects around me. The expanse of the Himalayas was breath-taking until I touched down at Synghboche, the highest drop zone of the world at 12,350 feet—an altitude where skydives normally begin. Becoming the first Asian to skydive (tandem) over Mount Everest, in October 2008, I raised the national flag and my peace flag at the Everest, which is at the top of the third pole of the world.

Did you always want to be an astronaut or is it something that developed over time?

I was born believing that I would become an astronaut one day, and I actually announced it to my cousins and friends when I was a teenager. I often say, ‘Space makes my DNA.’

 What were the key factors that influenced your decision to pursue this particular dream? 
I was always my own person and was born with my own dreams. Though my mother wanted me to follow a more traditional path and settle down, it was my father who helped me become a strong woman that I am today.

Did you have to face any obstacles?

This all has come at a big price. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of room for breaking the glass ceiling and above all, well-entrenched cultural and societal norms and expectations take a toll on most women.
Can you tell us a bit about the Space Trust?  What are you hoping to accomplish through it?

Having at least twenty years of experience in this sector , I founded the ‘Space Trust,’ a non-profit organization, to project space as the “New Frontier for Peace on Earth”, and raise awareness about peaceful use of space technologies on Earth. In more precise terms, the Space Trust is a “0G Summit” (Zero Gravity), similar to the G7 and G20 summits. – Ends