Tatiana Ivanova , 19, from Dobrich, has taken another big step towards fulfilling her dream of becoming the first Bulgarian woman in space. She has been accepted to study Aerospace Engineering in Florida starting January 2023.
The girl received an invitation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. This is a private university that focuses on aviation and aerospace programs. It is the largest accredited university system specializing in aviation and space. It has multiple online programs and academic programs offered at satellite locations.
Built adjacent to Daytona Beach International Airport, the campus is connected to an aircraft ramp owned by the university for flight training. The main campus consists of an aviation complex, academic quad and residence halls surrounding the student center and aviation park.
Fifty-two majors are offered at this location for 2020-21. The program at the Daytona Beach campus is among the largest undergraduate engineering physics programs in the country and the only one specializing in aerospace. Also parked on the ramp are two ERAU Flying Club Cessna 172s and two Cessna 150s from the Eagles flight team.
The Dayton Beach campus of Embry-Riddle has one of the most extensive Reserve Officer Training Programs in the United States and the nation’s largest Air Force ROTC Program.
Tatiana was accepted to NASA’s only academy that certifies astronaut candidates. “The project I was accepted for deals with exploring the middle layer of the atmosphere and in parallel prepares astronauts,” she told Darik Radio at the ceremony. She explained that there are many training camps and courses during the year that one can join.
The young Bulgarian woman, who has aspired to space, received in January this year an award at the ceremony “Worthy Bulgarians”.
In February 2022, she attended the PoSSUM Project Academy and the International Space Science Institute in Melbourne, Florida, USA.
Based on materials of Pro News Dobrich