Dhaka, Bangladesh: In a historic milestone for the nation, Sarah Karim, a Bangladeshi national, has been selected as an astronaut candidate by Titans Space Industries, placing her on the path to becoming Bangladesh’s first female astronaut. The selection, part of the international space mission programme for 2026–2030, offers her the unprecedented opportunity to represent her country on a global stage.
Sharing her emotions on social media, Sarah Karim described the moment as both humbling and exhilarating. She wrote, “I am honoured to have been chosen as an astronaut candidate for Titans Space Industries for the 2026–2030 period. I am officially stepping on the path to becoming an astronaut. God willing, if all goes well, I will be the first Bangladeshi to carry the national flag into space.”
Reflecting on her childhood dreams, she added:
“A nine-year-old girl, who once watched Sunita Williams return from space with her father, imagined far bigger dreams than she could comprehend. Something awoke in me then—a spark that never faded. Today, that dream is beginning to take shape in reality.”
Upcoming Training and Mission Plans
Sarah Karim is expected to commence her astronaut training next year, preparing for a historic orbital mission in 2029 or 2030 aboard the Titans Genesis spacecraft, which will travel approximately 300 kilometres above Earth. The mission will be led by veteran NASA astronaut and chief mission commander Bill McArthur, highlighting the collaborative international nature of this initiative.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Sarah Karim |
| Space Programme | Titans Space Industries, 2026–2030 |
| Mission Type | Orbital mission at 300 km altitude |
| Mission Commander | Bill McArthur (NASA veteran astronaut) |
| Significance | First Bangladeshi female astronaut; will carry national flag |
| Training Commencement | 2026 |
| Mission Year | 2029–2030 |
Sarah Karim emphasised that her achievement is collective rather than individual, stating:
“This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to every Bangladeshi girl who quietly dreams, to every child who looks up in awe, and to every mother who carries a universe on her shoulders.”
She expressed heartfelt gratitude to her husband, supporters, and the Titans Space Industries team, particularly Niel S. Lachman, for believing in a young girl whose early world consisted only of dreams and hope.
“The honour of carrying Bangladesh’s flag into space is the fulfilment of a childhood dream. Yet this is only the beginning,” she added, highlighting the journey ahead.
Sarah Karim’s selection represents a momentous step for Bangladesh in space exploration, inspiring countless young girls and demonstrating that dreams, however distant, can indeed reach the stars.