NASA Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba to visit Bangladesh for historic engagement with youth, academia, and media
Staff Reporter
Publish: 14 Dec 2024, 02:52 PM
Photo courtesy: US Embassy
In a historic first for Bangladesh, NASA Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba, Chief of the Astronaut Office, will visit Dhaka to engage with local youth, academia, and the media.
This visit marks the inaugural trip to Bangladesh by a NASA Chief Astronaut, underscoring the growing collaboration between NASA and Bangladesh’s burgeoning space and technology sectors.
Acaba’s tour will feature interactive sessions with students, where he will inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators, particularly in the fields of space science, robotics, and STEM education.
Through these engagements, Acaba aims to motivate young minds to explore careers in these transformative disciplines.
During his visit, Acaba will also lead discussions on the role of space exploration in advancing technology and tackling global challenges, such as the ongoing climate crisis.
He will emphasize the critical contributions of space science to addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Additionally, Acaba will participate in a televised interview, where he will share insights into NASA’s global contributions to science and technology, as well as the potential benefits for Bangladesh from increased collaboration in space exploration.
He will discuss the Artemis Accords, an initiative designed to promote a peaceful, safe, and prosperous future in space, and explore how Bangladesh can leverage this framework to advance its space and technology sectors.
Acaba, an educator, hydrogeologist, and former Peace Corps Volunteer, made history in May 2004 as the first person of Puerto Rican descent to be selected as a NASA astronaut candidate.
In 2023, he was appointed Chief of the Astronaut Office. Over the course of three space missions, Acaba has spent more than 306 days in space, including multiple spacewalks and groundbreaking research aboard the International Space Station.
His visit is expected to be a major milestone in strengthening ties between NASA and Bangladesh, particularly in the areas of space exploration and technological innovation.
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