Shawna Pandya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shawna Pandya is a Canadian medical doctor and space communicator.[1] She is best known for her research with the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences and her planned 2026 suborbital flight to space with Virgin Galactic.[2][3][4]
She is an aquanaut[5] having worked on the NEP2NE project in 2019[6] and May 2023, spending a total of 11 days, 10 nights underwater. She has flown 12 parabolic flight campaigns, culminating over 180 parabolas of experience in micro- and reduced gravity.[7] Pandya also pursues business opportunities related to space medicine.[8][9][10]
Spaceflight
Pandya is expected to fly on Virgin Galactic's Delta-class spacecraft with fellow researchers Kellie Gerardi from the United States and Norah Patten from Ireland in 2026.[11][12]
Awards and honors
- 2021 Women's Executive Network's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada[13]
- Karman Fellow 2025[14]
- Explorers Club "50 Explorers Changing the World"[15]
Select publications
- Shirah, Bader; Mason, Christopher E.; Pandya, Shawna; Gonzalez, Yvette; Persad, Aaron H.; Ahmed, Mohammed M.; Ashemimry, Mishaal N.; Sen, Jon (1 January 2025). "Evaluation of astronaut experience, future directions, and recommendations for neuroscience research methods in human spaceflight". Neuroscience Research in Short-Duration Human Spaceflight. Academic Press. pp. 145–158. doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-33918-9.00001-8.
