Wanderlust

WANDERLUST: (N) 'A strong desire or lust or urge to wander or travel and explore the world.'

 From living in Munich and working at the European Southern Observatory, to spending the summer and autumn months in Canada - 2014 has been filled with incredible memories for life. 

In particular, the 13541 kilometre road trip that I took is one that I will always remember. Driving from Montreal on the east coast of Canada, across to Vancouver and down through the US and east until Toronto - I saw and tried countless new things. One line that I think fits this incredible journey best is from one of my favourite books, Stephen Chbosky's  'The Perks of Being A Wallflower'. Driving through a tunnel full of lights, the wallflower said, "And in that moment, I swear we were infinite". 

Below is a (large) selection of what I saw along the way :) 

2014 was incredible. I'm looking forward to the adventures that 2015 holds :)

- Nikita

The Space Generation Advisory Council

You may have seen my blog post on the Space Generation Congress (SGC) back in October in Toronto this year. Organised by the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), it's the place to be if you're a student or young professional interested in the key issues in space of this generation. 

I am happy to say that I have recently been selected as one of the organisation's Copy Editors. Joined by 5 other peers, we will work alongside the existing Copy Editors to shape the documents and papers presented around the world on behalf of space professionals and students. 

Comprised of volunteer students and young professionals in the space industry from over 100 countries across the globe, SGAC is the voice of the space generation of today - the space sector leaders of tomorrow. The network connects us to leaders in the United Nations (UN), space agencies and academia. Working in conjunction with the United Nations Committee  on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPOUS), SGAC has the power to communicate ideas across disciplines, generations and oceans. 

I'm very happy to join the SGAC team and help to shape the innovative work that is being done here.

-Nikita

I Love to Sail Forbidden Seas

This famous quote by Herman Melville in Moby Dick is featured in this recently released short film named 'Wanderers'. Narrated by the legend that is Carl Sagan, the magical film by Erik Wernquist is a window into the future of humanity as we evolve into the space-faring species we are destined to one day become. It is inspiring, stunning and most of all makes me think I was born a century too early!

-Nikita