Failure, is NOT an option.

That is the view of this 13-year-old girl who is already in training to become the first human to blast her way off to Mars.

Alyssa Carson has spent the last nine years in training in the hope that there will be a manned-mission to Mars in 2033 – and she will be onboard.

Alyssa, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has gone to all three of Nasa’s world space camps, five-day training events for would-be astronauts.


Alyssa Carson (Picture: BBC)

Alyssa Carson in training (Picture: BBC)

During these events children blast off mini rockets, ride space flight simulators, try out zero gravity machines and test their physical ability.



She also is studying science and several languages.

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She said: ‘I want to go to Mars because it is a place nobody has been. it is really deserted right now so i want to take that first step.

‘I think that i have a high chance of going to mars basically because I’ve been training for nine years so far.

‘As I get older and continue to do more things the resume will just get longer and hopefully help me stand out and help me look unique compared to other people.’

Space camp (Picture Nasa/ YouTube)

Space camp (Picture: Nasa/ YouTube)

But is Alyssa afraid she may never return? Her father says they have discussed that and she still wants to go.

Paul Foreman, from Nasa, said: ‘Nasa takes people like Alyssa very seriously. She’s doing the right things, taking the right steps.’