On August 26, 2023, it was not merely a spacecraft launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but a historic moment embodying the triumph of human will over the boundaries of geography and politics. At the forefront of that journey, specifically in the commander’s seat of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission, sat Jasmin Moghbeli—a woman who carried Kurdish blood in her veins and dreams that knew no impossible in her heart. She etched her name as the first Kurdish female astronaut in history to lead an international mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Roots and the Journey from the Womb of Suffering
Jasmin Moghbeli’s roots trace back to the ancient city of Mahabad in Eastern Kurdistan (Iran). Her story began before she was even born, when her parents, Fereshteh and Kamy Moghbeli, were forced to flee the weight of the tragic events that followed 1979, during which Kurdish regions in Mahabad and Sanandaj witnessed widespread campaigns of repression. Amidst this political and security turmoil, Jasmin was born in the city of Bad Nauheim, Germany, in 1983. Her family later relocated to the United States and settled in New York. This challenge-laden background was not an obstacle, but rather the fuel that ignited an overwhelming desire within her to excel, proving that identity is not a constraint, but a source of pride and a launching pad.
Academic Excellence and the Military Spirit
From her early childhood, specifically in the sixth grade, Jasmin would answer with absolute confidence when asked about her dream: “I want to be an astronaut.” She pursued a rugged and highly disciplined path to achieve this dream, enrolling at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s most prestigious scientific institutions, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. She followed this with a master’s degree in the same discipline from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Jasmin did not stop at academic excellence; she chose to forge her character within the ranks of the United States Marine Corps. There, she demonstrated unparalleled competence as a Super Cobra helicopter test pilot, participating in more than 150 combat missions and logging over 2,000 flight hours across more than 25 different aircraft. This field military experience made her an ideal candidate for NASA, which selected her in 2017 from among thousands of applicants to be part of the new class of astronauts.
Achievements Above the Clouds: The Crew-7 Mission and Beyond
Jasmin’s leadership of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission is considered a turning point in her career. She was not just an ordinary astronaut, but the “Commander” of a crew that included astronauts from Japan, Russia, and Denmark. During her stay of approximately 200 days aboard the International Space Station, Jasmin conducted complex scientific experiments and participated in spacewalks, reflecting a supreme capability to manage technical operations in a zero-gravity environment. Perhaps more important than the technical aspect is what Jasmin symbolizes today; she is currently a core member of the Artemis team—NASA’s ambitious program aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface. Jasmin may well be the woman who sets foot on lunar soil in the near future.
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) August 27, 2023
An Inspiring Message for Generations and Minorities
Jasmin speaks Kurdish, Persian, English, and German fluently, and she views her ethnic and cultural diversity as a message of strength. In her media appearances, Jasmin always expresses pride in her roots, emphasizing that reaching NASA is proof to young girls and members of minority groups that dreams have no ceiling. Jasmin shares that she felt both humbled and proud when her colleagues told her that “Kurds and Iranians can also reach space,” stressing that NASA has become a place that values competence above any other consideration.
The story of Jasmin Moghbeli is a human epic that condenses the distance of thousands of kilometers from the mountains of Kurdistan to Earth’s orbits. It is the story of a girl who did not forget her family’s roots in Mahabad while watching the Earth from the window of the International Space Station. Jasmin has proven that “identity” is not merely identification papers, but a spirit carried along the journey of exploring the unknown, truly becoming a pride for the Kurds and an inspiring model for all of humanity in its quest toward the stars.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
