Who is Dr. Eiman Jahangir?

I wanted to know better Dr Eiman Jahangir and I was recently given the opportunity by Space for Humanity to ask him a few questions.

Dr. Jahangir, a cardiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville Tennessee) recently participated in Blue Origin’s suborbital spaceflight, NS-26, which took place on August 29, 2024. This flight lasted approximately 11 minutes, was a significant milestone for Jahangir, fulfilling a lifelong dream of space travel.

Dr Jahangir was selected through a worldwide contest organized by MoonDAO, which aims to democratize access to space, receiving over 2,200 entries for the opportunity.

Eiman Jahangir’s journey into space represents more than personal achievement; it embodies a broader vision for humanity’s future in space exploration. His participation is particularly noteworthy as he conducted scientific research during the flight, including measuring heart rate and studying the effects of space travel on genetic mutations and the immune system.

This research should contribute to valuable insights into how space conditions affect human health, which is crucial as humanity considers longer missions beyond Earth, such as to Mars.

Eiman Jahangir’s flight is part of a growing trend where private space companies like Blue Origin and organizations like MoonDAO are making space more accessible to individuals outside traditional astronaut programs.

Here is the interview:

Frederic Eger (FE): When you experienced weightlessness and the Overview Effect, how of your family members, grand-parents, parents and children you’ve missed the most and would have liked to have them by your side to share the experience with them?

Eiman Jahangir (EJ): I would have liked all of them to be there with me, if interested. The only one that has voiced any interest is my son so I guess if I had to pick one person it would be with him.

FE: Did you have an epiphany on how to make Humanity a space-faring civilization faster?
EJ: No epiphany. The issue remains cost of transporting items to orbit. We need better propulsion systems and bigger rockets. The Starship heavy is going to help with this.

FE: What are the 3 major changes that must happen immediately in our global society for Humanity to be a space-faring civilization?
EJ: 1. Funding for space programs must increase; 2. Funding towards technology to manage medical issues in space must increase; 3. Countries must continue to and expand their collaborative efforts in space.

F.E: Do you believe that a nuclear World War III is an inevitable step in Humanity’s evolution to become the type 2 civilization Star Trek is?
EJ: No I do not. WWIII would set everything back generations as far as space travel. Resources would be diverted to weapons of war instead of as tools for good.

FE: What year do you envision Humanity will have a city of 10,000 Lunarians or “Moon human inhabitants.”?
EJ: 2200 hopefully. Sooner if private companies start visiting the moon more frequently. 10,000 people is a large population and assumes more than just a work force. Potentially families living in space.

FE: What year do you envision Humanity will have a city of 10,000 Martians or “Mars human inhabitants”?
EJ: No clue. Radiation is a real issue on the way to Mars and will need to be addressed before sending humans there. This can be done by better propulsion systems which make the trip shorter than 6 months or better shielding, which tends to be heavy. The Moon is hard. Mars is nearly impossible with our current technology.

FE: Why is, according to you, access to space still expensive and space tourism not democratized yet in 2024?
EJ: Commercial space companies have only been around for a little more than a decade and space remains hard. Hard things take time. I am hopeful the next 20 years will bring much progress.

These are the few answer Dr Jahangir kindly shared with me.

I’d like also to explain why the work of MooDAO and Space for Humanity is important, actually more important than any government space agency…

MoonDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that democratizes space exploration by allowing anyone to participate, regardless of borders or background. It creates a diverse global community to fund and direct space missions and research. MoonDAO’s key achievements include sending everyday people to space through a democratic selection process, such as purchasing tickets on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
MoonDAO also funds open space research through its governance token, $MOONEY, which is used to fund research fellows at the Open Lunar Foundation to study critical topics like lunar timekeeping protocols. This support accelerates progress towards establishing a self-sustaining lunar settlement.
As a DAO, MoonDAO operates with high transparency, recording all financial transactions on the blockchain. This level of openness allows members to collaborate effectively and hold the organization accountable. MoonDAO’s focus on education and outreach aims to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM and dream big about space exploration.

Space for Humanity is an organization that sends purpose-driven leaders, and, any citizen to space, allowing them to experience the Overview Effect, a cognitive shift that highlights the interconnectedness of all life. This perspective fosters a deep appreciation for the planet’s beauty and fragility, fostering a renewed sense of responsibility and commitment to addressing global challenges.

Space for Humanity promotes global cooperation by fostering a culture of peace and collective action among diverse leaders. Technological and scientific advancements are driven by space exploration, with technologies developed for space missions often improving daily life on Earth and inspiring future generations. This focus on education and inspiration is vital for cultivating a society that values innovation and exploration.

Space for Humanity contributes to this ecosystem by enabling leaders to return with insights that can lead to advancements in sustainability and resource management.

Space for Humanity’s citizen-astronaut program addresses existential risks facing humanity, such as climate change and potential asteroid impacts.

Space for Humanity also advocates for the colonization of other planets to ensure the survival of Humanity.

The democratization of space travel with organizations such as Space for Humanity, MoonDAO and their partners like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic inspires, motivates, stimulates the next generations of scientists, engineers and explorers to develop the capabilities needed to thrive beyond Earth.

It encourages the diverse participation in STEM, now more referred to as STEAM, the ‘A’ standing for the ‘Arts’, beyond the natural circles of engineers and scientists to entrepreneurs and any citizen who wants to invest in making Humanity a space-faring civilization.

Eiman Jahangir is now not only Blue Origin Astronaut #43, an astronaut-cardiologist, but represents yet another step forward in Humanity’s collective journey into space, with potential implications for health research and the demonstration to the skeptics that, with advanced qualifications and perseverance, the stars are within reach.

Ad Astra Per Espera Dr Jahangir!