Neharika Gambhir, a pilot and cyber engineer from the United States, is breaking new ground as the first Analog Astronaut of Fijian-American origin. 

Ms Gambhir is making significant strides in the world of aerospace, driven by her deep passion for space medicine and intravehicular spacesuit research. 

She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science whilst working toward getting a Ph.D. in Computational Life Sciences specialising in Computational Neurology and the study of Neural Networks in the diagnosis of Vascular Malformations. 

Her journey began at the age of five when she first dreamed of becoming an astronaut. 

Originally from Fiji, Ms Gambhir moved to the U.S. in 2019 and after overcoming initial challenges, started her aviation and aerospace career in 2021. 

She has since worked on two NASA L’SPACE fellowships and is currently training as a student astronaut-scientist candidate at the International Analog Astronauts Station in Poland.

Ms Gambhir volunteers with the Commemorative Air Force, where she helps restore and maintain WWII aircraft. She also participates in airshows and educational outreach, sharing her love for aviation with the public. One of her proudest achievements is helping work on the Grumman Torpedo Bomber Doris Mae.

Looking ahead, Gambhir aspires to become a commercial astronaut and aerobatic airshow pilot. 

Her advice to future women aviators is to “look for knowledge anywhere you can grab it and don’t let any circumstance or anyone stop you from chasing your dreams. The sky isn’t a limit if there are footprints on the moon.” 

Ms Gambhir’s work is an inspiration to all, proving that with determination and passion, the sky is just the beginning.