Ruthba Yasmin becomes the first Bangladeshi woman to complete Space Nation’s Moon Pioneer Mission training, aiming to contribute to future lunar exploration.
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| Ruthba Yasmin, a Bangladeshi space weather researcher, completes critical astronaut training with Space Nation, making strides toward future lunar missions. Image: Collected |
Dhaka, Bangladesh – June 15, 2025:
Ruthba Yasmin, a Bangladeshi scientist with a passion for space exploration, has completed astronaut training as part of the Space Nation Moon Pioneer Mission, marking a milestone for both Bangladesh and women in space science.
The three-day intensive training, held earlier this year, was part of Space Nation’s international initiative to prepare diverse mission crews for future lunar expeditions. On April 16, the organization announced that a majority of its crew members were women, including Ruthba.
Ruthba’s journey to this achievement began at Scholastica School in Dhaka, followed by her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, where she earned a physics degree with a mathematics minor in 2014. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to Bangladesh and later completed a postgraduate degree in Data Science at United International University, and in 2024, she earned a master's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of South Alabama.
Her research focus has been on space weather, particularly geomagnetic storms and their effects on the Earth’s magnetosphere—an interest that guided her academic path and fueled her dream of traveling to space. “I had a deep desire to use my physics degree to its fullest,” Ruthba said. “From there, the dream of stepping into space began.”
During Space Nation’s Moon Pioneer Mission simulation, Ruthba served in two key roles. In the first phase, she was designated as the Moon Base EVA Specialist, participating in a simulated lunar surface expedition while suited in a mock spacesuit. In the second phase, she served as a Mission Control Engineer, responsible for remotely guiding her fellow astronauts safely back to base—a task she performed with skill and precision.
Ruthba’s successful training marks her as a pioneering figure in Bangladesh’s space aspirations and serves as an inspiration for aspiring scientists, especially women, across the region.