Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jasmin Moghbeli, a NASA astronaut, recently wrapped up a remarkable six-month mission in space, returning home in March.
When she shared her experiences with her former unit, she did so with a light-hearted perspective, humorously comparing her time aboard the International Space Station to her previous deployments.
Moghbeli pointed out that she had never enjoyed personal space during her military service, which made her snug quarters in orbit feel unexpectedly luxurious.
Military Background
On December 12 and 13, Moghbeli spoke to members of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, where she had once flown the AH-1W Super Cobra.
Her military journey includes critical deployments to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010 and various support roles with the 13th and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units in the years that followed.
Throughout her military career, she has logged over 150 combat missions and accumulated around 2,000 flight hours flying 25 different aircraft.
Space Mission Achievements
During her inaugural space mission, she served as the mission commander for SpaceX Crew-7, which made a successful docking with the International Space Station in August 2023.
Over her astonishing 199 days in space, she conducted a spacewalk and collaborated with her crew on more than 250 experiments, including groundbreaking work focused on 3D bioprinting human organs.
Reflection and Commemoration
Looking back on her time in orbit, Moghbeli noted, somewhat surprisingly, that it represented one of the shortest ‘deployments’ in her military career.
She credited her Marine training with preparing her for the diverse responsibilities she encountered in space, which ranged from piloting the spacecraft to conducting scientific research and even performing maintenance and medical tasks.
She observed that Marines are skilled at working under challenging conditions without the luxury of downtime.
Moghbeli also expressed a heartfelt connection to her helicopter squadron, recalling her time as a true highlight of her career.
She honored her late comrade, Capt. David Seth “Sniper” Mitchell, who tragically lost his life in Afghanistan in 2009.
Reflecting on Mitchell’s steadfast dedication, she underscored the spirit of the Marines, emphasizing that the sacrifices made by service members ultimately serve to protect the lives of others.
Source: Taskandpurpose