Bharti Sharma, India

If you think planetary science is all lab coats and data sheets, Bharti Sharma is here to prove it’s also about curiosity, creativity, and a really strong desire to explore strange, dusty places. Bharti is a geologist, analog astronaut, startup founder, and active member of Women in Space South Asia. She’s worked across India in everything from palaeoclimatology to planetary mapping and recently completed a mission at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah as part of Crew 292 – Mangalyatri. Her goal? To become a scientist-astronaut and help build a future where diverse voices shape life beyond Earth.

In this episode, we dig into the value of Mars analog missions, the challenges of doing field science in a helmet, and the very real heartbreak of not being able to lick a rock. We also talk about subterranean alien inspiration, geotourism, and why building a global network of role models is just as important as scientific training. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to chase your Martian dream with a rock hammer in one hand and a vision for community in the other, this one’s for you.

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