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Martina Dimoska (born March, 22) is the first female Balkan Analog Astronaut, an awarded published research scholar, an innovator, an engineer, and a pioneering figure in space exploration nationally, regionally, and internationally.

As a STEM educator and content creator, Martina promotes diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of life, especially in space exploration with the popular handle @astro_smarta across social media platforms.

Analog Astronaut Missions, Astronaut Training & Spaceflight Training

File:Martina Dimoska in NDX Blueberry Space Suit on UND ILMAH 14 Mission

Martina Dimoska started her Astronaut Training journey by obtaining an NAUI Open Water Diving Certification, diving in freezing cold temperatures in German Lakes in winter at Black Sam Bellamy Dive Resort. NAUI has a global reputation for being the best in training and educational products and organizations specifically choose NAUI for their diver education programs including United States Navy SEAL Teams, and NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas (USA) where astronauts train for their space walks.

In her Spaceflight and Astronaut training journey, Martina became NASTAR Center Suborbital Space Flight Certified, earning her wings and because of her stellar performance, she became the first sole NASTAR Senior Ambassador. ETC’s National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center is the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved center able to meet the training requirements for commercial human spaceflight (14 CFR § 460.5). It is recognized as the leader in orbital and suborbital spaceflight training and is known for its Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) program for commercial aviators. Through their facilities, they train Astronauts from the likes of NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and Virgin Galactic. To qualify both for training and high-fidelity Analog Astronaut Missions Martina has successfully passed a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Medical Exam and has a Medical Certificate that pilots must use.

Martina had an introduction to Human Spaceflight and the importance of Analog Astronaut Missions whilst attending the Masters of Space Studies at the International Space University and studying 'Human Performance in Space Exploration'. Then she successfully passed the Austrian Space Forum OeWF - Analog Mission Basic Training (ABMT). At the International Space University (ISU) during her course work, Martina led a student group to maintain and equip the SHEE (Self-Deployable Habitat for Extreme Environments) habitat at ISU mentored and supervised by experts and professors.

She became the first Macedonian Analog Astronaut and the First Balkan Analog Astronaut serving on UND ILMAH 14 (Integrated Lunar Martian Analog Habitat) supported by NASA, CSA, Simon Fraiser, and the University of North Dakota, as a part of their 14th mission as a Science Officer. Two research experiments were conducted on the ISS, for which this Analog was a test bed: CardioBreath and Еxolab, amongst many other research experiments on board.

Her second mission was called APICES (Astroland Project Inside Caves for Earth-based Space Exploration) organized by ESA BIC Supported ICEE Space and Astroland Interplanetary Agency. Her primary role was a Crew Engineer and her secondary role was a crew Outreach Lead, specifically because of her vast reach on social media. The mission was held in a National Protected Park within a Cave, with Distinguished Mission Commander, the ESA Astronaut Reservist Ales Svoboda.

Martina's third Mission was called SELENE, where she served as a Mission Commander in the LunAres Habitat, in a world-war two bunker reused for Space Exploration in Poland. Because of her excellence and performance as a Commander Martina earned a role to become a LunAres Ambassador.

International Recognition

Martina is an Internationally recognized Space Pioneer by many distinguished programs, organizations, and entities such as Forbes, Bloomberg Adria, Huffington Post, UNDP, UN Women, OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), Pineapple Empire, Al Jaizira, TED and TEDx, and many notable others.

She's a Google Woman Techmaker Ambassador, 3 times TEDx speaker, and recipient of numerous awards, including a Forbes 30 Under 30 Nomination Europe and Woman or Scientist of the Year a plethora of times. Amongst her many trailblazing space awards and distinguishments, she received the renowned Emerging Space Leader from the International Astronautical Federation where she is also currently involved, and she is serving as the National Point of Contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) for N. Macedonia. She is a part of the ASCEND Diverse Dozen (12) Prestigious Cohort established by Moriba Jah and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Social Entrepreneurship

Martina is single-handedly transforming the Space Ecosystem in the Balkan and Eurasian Region, whilst immensely contributing to developing and emerging space regions globally, through Social Entrepreneurship, serving as the Founder and President of the International Space Alliance, an organization breaching the gap between agency, industry, and academia, bringing space opportunities to developing regions, and accelerating equal access to Space Exploration.

NASA Contracts & Involvement

The biggest annual hackathon, ‘the NASA Space Apps Challenge program’, formerly run by NASA's Office of the Chief Information Officer, is part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and is a part of the Open Government Initiative founded under President Barack Obama. It fulfills the United States’ commitments to the Open Government Partnership. Space Apps is managed by the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Earth Science Division, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. It is implemented by Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse under contract with NASA in collaboration with other leading Space Agencies across the globe.

Martina Dimoska won the 1st Place - Galactic Impact Award at the NASA Space Apps Challenge Skopje in 2014 as a part of Team Lambda. She mentored the NASA Space Apps Challenge Skopje from 2015 to 2019 until she transferred to the NASA Space Apps Challenge Cleveland location where she was involved with the Core Organizing Team. At the time, that Space Apps location was the sole location partnering with NASA Glenn Research Center. Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, the retiring local lead passed the leadership onto Martina, and in order for the location to not die off, amid a global pandemic, Martina incorporated innovative ways to host it becoming the first Female Macedonian Contractor and the first Macedonian direct contractor with NASA Glenn Research Center in 2021. She was the Local Lead of the NASA Space Apps Challenge Cleveland and a Co-Lead in Pittsburg in 2021. From 2022 onwards, she became the Local Lead of NASA Space Apps Challenge Mountain View, Silicon Valley, contracting with NASA Ames Research Center. Until 2024, Martina is the only Local Lead that directly hosts NASA Space Apps Challenges at NASA Research Centers but aids other Local Leads in establishing the same partnership. Martina made history by successfully contracting and maintaining fruitful cooperation with as an international with two NASA Research Centers.

Education

Martina is finalizing the Masters of Space Studies at the International Space University, where she was granted an ISU Tuition Scholarship. Her research thesis captivates In-Situ Resource Utilization, Additive Manufacturing, and Production of Lunar and Martian Regoliths, and Lunar and Martian Simulants, called ‘Setting up a Lunar Dust 3D Solar Printer in collaboration with ECAM Strasbourg’. Her Team Research Project was ESA supported ‘By Starship Impact on the Satcom Industry’. Her chosen electives are heavily aimed toward research, innovation, and engineering. Martina led a student group to maintain and equip the SHEE (Self-Deployable Habitat for Extreme Environments) habitat at ISU mentored by experts and professors.

Martina has a Graduate Degree in Commercial Space Studies (CSS), from the Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech). Led by the Director and Professor Andrew Aldrin the son of Buzz Aldrin, where Martina was amongst the rare students and the first Macedonian and Balkan woman to receive a scholarship from Aldrin Family Foundation.

Martina has a Bachelor of Material Engineering and Nanotechnology from the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy (TMF) via UKIM. She was a recipient of a 4 years Full Scholarship - 'A' type scholar for her high GPA and achievements, a scholarship awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science - Macedonia. Martina was the first-ever awarded & honored freshman for promoting the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy awarded on the 55-year anniversary occasion. During her studies, Martina attended Kent State University, taking classes in the Aerospace Engineering Campus in the timeframe between 2016 and 2017 as a Global UGRAD First Generation Finalist, Full Scholarship Winner, and Alumni. The Global UGRAD program is considered a 'sister' of the Fullbright program. Martina made the Dean's List and Honor Roll with a 3.94 GPA. At Kent State Martina with her team built a functional prototype on the class Applied Engineering Senior Seminar tested in ATA Group Inc. and supported by Kent State. The Global UGRAD (Global Undergraduate Exchange Program) is a study program sponsored by World Learning, U.S. Department of State, and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs American Embassy in North Macedonia

Outreach and Media

Martina has an international outreach and her work is globally recognized, from traditional media, newspapers, and TV publications to novel social media, articles, and website features. Her work emphasizes women in STEAM and Space Exploration, and she focuses on advocacy for representation as well as sustainability in Space. As a STEM educator and content creator, Martina promotes diversity and inclusivity in space exploration, especially for first-generation immigrants, fighting stigma and prejudice through videos, masterclasses, talks, events, workshops, and social media outreach with the popular handle @astro_smarta across platforms.

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