Shawna Pandya

Dr. Pandya is Astronaut 002 at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) and the first named Canadian female commercial astronaut. In June 2024, she was named to the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) upcoming IIAS-02 suborbital research spaceflight. She is a physician, Chief of Space Medicine at the Advanced Spacelife Research Institute, and Executive Director of IIAS’ Flight Opportunities Program. Dr. Pandya is a veteran of 12 parabolic flights, two aquanaut missions, and was scientific lead on the first IIAS suborbital research flight. She was recognized as one of the Explorers' Club's “50 Explorers Changing the World” in 2022.