While many of us can only dream of space travel, 17-year-old astronaut trainee Alyssa Carson is doing her best to make it a reality. The ambitious Louisiana-based teenager has had her “heart set on the stars” ever since she was a little girl. At only 3 years old, she told her father, “Daddy, I want to be an astronaut, and be one of the people that go to Mars.” Staying true to her word, she’s currently undergoing rigorous training to become an astronaut, with her ultimate goal to be part of the first human mission to Mars in the year 2033.

Among a long list of accomplishments, Carson is the youngest person ever to graduate Advanced Space Academy. She’s also the first in the world to have completed all three NASA Space Camps (United States, Canada, and Turkey). Furthermore, she’s the first and only person to complete the NASA Passport Program, having visited all 14 of NASA’s visitor centers located across nine U.S. states. In January 2013, she was invited to join NASA TV’s MER 10 panel in Washington DC to discuss future missions to Mars. She was later chosen as one of seven ambassadors for a Dutch company with a mission to establish the first human settlement on the red planet in 2033. In October 2016, Carson graduated the Advanced Possum Academy, making her the youngest person ever to be officially certified to go to outer-space.

Astonishingly, Carson has still managed to make time for a traditional education. She’s currently taking all of her school subjects in four languages (English, Chinese, French, and Spanish). She explains, “The biggest [challenge] is time and getting everything done at such a young age while also still attending high school. Continuing to train at a young age will also be further difficulties for me but I have done great with it so far.” When she’s not training or studying, Carson is also a public speaker. She aims to encourage other young people to also pursue their life goals, saying, “Always follow your dream and don’t let anyone take it from you.”

Keep up to date on Carson’s progress on Facebook and Instagram.

17-year-old astronaut trainee Alyssa Carson is currently training to become an astronaut part of the first human mission to Mars in the year 2033.

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Apr 16, 2018 at 9:06am PDT

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Mar 17, 2018 at 12:09pm PDT

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Jul 13, 2017 at 5:25pm PDT

The ambitious Louisiana-based teenager has had her “heart set on the stars” ever since she was a little girl.

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Apr 8, 2018 at 2:47pm PDT

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Apr 3, 2016 at 10:14am PDT

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Nov 21, 2015 at 5:52am PST

Among a long list of accomplishments, she’s the youngest person ever to graduate Advanced Space Academy.

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Jul 21, 2015 at 5:46pm PDT

A post shared by Alyssa Carson (@nasablueberry) on Oct 30, 2014 at 1:59pm PDT

She’s recently been selected as one of seven ambassadors representing a Dutch company with a mission to establish the first human colony on Mars.

Alyssa Carson: Website | Facebook | Instagram

h/t: [Bored Panda]

All images via Alyssa Carson.

This article has been updated with corrections. It previously misstated that NASA was training Alyssa Carson.

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