Serena Maria Auñón, M.D., M.P.H.
NASA Astronaut
NASA Johnson Space Center
Houston, Texas

Many children grow up saying they’re going to be an astronaut someday, but far fewer ever make that dream a reality. Dr. Serena Maria Auñón was one of those children who fantasized about an out-of-this-world future career as she watched shuttles launch, captivated. The only major difference? Dr. Auñón became a NASA astronaut — and a medical doctor. Dr. Auñón’s interest in space began when she attended the NASA Space Academy in 11th grade., sparking her interest in engineering, which she pursued at George Washington University, her father’s Alma Mater.

In fact, the most recent data in a 2011 report by the National Research Council shows that there are only an estimated 61 Astronaut Corps members, and Dr. Auñón was one of nine out of 3,500 applicants selected for the Astronaut Candidacy Program (ASCAN) in 2009. She graduated from ASCAN in 2011 to earn the designation as an official member of the NASA Astronaut Corps, which is her proudest achievement. During her training, Dr. Auñón took classes in space station systems (electrical or environmental control), robotics, Russian language and space walking, although she has yet to launch into orbit. “Regardless of whether you are a physician, scientist, pilot or engineer, you receive the same training,” says Dr. Auñón of the nearly two-and-a-half years of training.

Today, Dr. Auñón is a practicing physician, primarily on weekends and after hours, with clinical privileges at University of Texas Medical Branch and is a volunteer physician at St. Vincent’s House Free Clinic, both in Galveston, Texas. However, she spends a majority of her time at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she puts her unique background to task, with her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and doctor of medicine and master’s of public health.
As the chief of the medical branch in the astronaut office, Dr. Auñón says, “I look at any issue during a mission that affects crew health and safety for international space stations, and also commercial and exploration, which can come from on board space station or vehicles. I am a medical voice for the astronaut office.” Typical duties may include gleaning and sharing input from physicians on what belongs in a medical kit astronauts will be taking on a mission to Mars. She’s also had the opportunity to develop a new and non-invasive way to monitor body temperature that reduces the chance of heat exhaustion or heat stroke while conducting water survival training in Russia’s Black Sea.

The Aerospace Medical Association has recognized her work as she was chosen for their Julian E. Ward Memorial Award for trend-setting contributions to spaceflight participant clinical care.  She’s also provided medical support for zero gravity flights, bed rest and centrifuge analogue environments, and space operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. She also served as the deputy crew surgeon for NASA’s STS-127 mission.

With Dr. Auñón’s busy schedule, she admits staying focused is challenging, so she recommends mapping out your goals in terms of where you want to be in 10 to 15 years down the road, but to also remember to stay grounded. “You can find yourself working many hours and not taking enough time for yourself. Have a set of friends to take a load off with and make sure you’re taking care of yourself. We’re very busy with space station operations — you can work 24 hours a day if you wanted to, but you really have to find that balance.”

If you’re shooting for a career as an astronaut, Dr. Auñón, who was encouraged as a child by her father to study engineering in order to become an astronaut, recommends getting an education in any STEM area once you decide what subject you enjoy. “I tell people to do what they love and stay focused, and usually things just work out,” she says, “NASA needs scientists, engineers and physicians.”

For more information on NASA careers, visit www.nasajobs.nasa.gov.