¿Y si el sueño de ser astronauta comienza en la Tierra? | Carolina Orozco & José Perea | TEDxCali

Quick Overview

The dream of becoming an astronaut begins on Earth through analog missions that simulate extreme conditions, teaching participants about self-sufficiency, evolution, and the responsibility to care for our planet, as exemplified by the speakers' experience growing food (mushrooms) and conducting scientific experiments during their isolation period.

Key Points: Space exploration, specifically astronaut training, begins on Earth by simulating extreme conditions, such as those found on the Moon or Mars. Analog astronaut training is not just for space exploration but is for life, emphasizing internal exploration alongside external exploration. The speakers successfully grew their own food—mushrooms cultivated with emerging solar energy—during their isolation period, demonstrating self-sufficiency. The simulation involved rigorous scientific reality, including medical exams every two hours and monitoring physiological age, proving it was not a glamorous experience (no 24/7 water or glamorous features). Their project, which originated from a social project involving children from the Pacific coast, resulted in sending organic solar cells and chocolate into space. The process of achieving their goals involved a system of purpose, system, and iterative learning/interaction, acknowledging that science is iterative (trials, failures, corrections). The speakers, Carolina Orozco (48 years old) and José Perea (54 years old during the talk), were supported by institutions like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Google.

Context: Carolina Orozco and José Perea present their experience as analog astronauts at TEDxCali, exploring the concept that the dream of space travel starts with terrestrial simulations. They highlight the importance of these analog missions, which simulate the harsh, isolated, and demanding environments faced by real astronauts, as a means of personal and scientific growth, ultimately connecting external exploration to internal discovery and stewardship of Earth.