24-year-old US woman has spent her whole life preparing to be the first person on Mars
Published on Jul 02, 2025 at 6:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jul 02, 2025 at 6:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A 24-year-old woman is currently preparing to become the first person on Mars.
Alyssa Carson has long been touted as a candidate for Mars exploration.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native says it has been her dream since she was three.
And it appears to be a dream that is ever-closer to being a reality.
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Could Alyssa Carson be the first person on Mars?
For decades, the idea of Mars exploration has been the subject of fascination.
NASA, as well as private space agencies, have been working towards putting the first person on Mars for a while.
Different satellites and Rovers have been monitoring the planet for years now.
But there is one person who appears to be the outstanding candidate for the job.
Alyssa Carson is a 24 year-old woman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
At the moment, there is a potential mission to Mars happening in 2033.
And Carson is determined to punch her ticket on the trip when it happens.
Carson, known by her NASA callsign ‘NASA Blueberry,’ is currently studying for a PhD in Astrobiology.
Carson recently made an appearance on the Flight Club Podcast.
During her appearance, Carson made her case for why being the first person on Mars is so important.
Could there actually be life on Mars?
“I think that we’ve always been interested in Mars, in fact next to Earth Mars is our most studied planet… I think with the natural progression…within the space industry, Mars is kind of like our next destination.”
“Also the potential of life, especially in my area of interest within astrobiology, but the potential for life on Mars has been a huge question that we’ve had for so long.”
“But nothing can compete with the amount of information we’re able to gain once we send people to Mars.”
Getting someone across the gulf of space to Mars is an amazing idea, no doubt.
Getting people to and from Mars, however, is a completely different challenge entirely.
Current NASA technology estimates that it would take around six months to get to Mars.
That would enormously limit how long humans could actually spend exploring Mars.
With technology ever advancing and moving, it could well be feasible by 2033.
And Alyssa Carson will certainly be hoping the technology is ready by that time.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
