The story of the future first female astronaut of independent Uzbekistan

My name is Diyora Daminova. I am a fourth-year student at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in computer science. I also work at the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory, where I assist with engineering projects and gain valuable hands-on experience.

That is nowhere I am now - but just a couple of years ago, I was a participant in the first cohort of the UniSat program, which became a true starting point for me. It was through UniSat that I discovered my passion for aerospace engineering and my desire to help revivethis industry in Uzbekistan. For me, UniSat is more than a learning platform, it’s a vibrant community where girls support and inspire each other, building a strong and supportive STEM community.

This year, the third cohort of UniSat participants completed the training. They designed, assembled, and launched nanosatellites into the stratosphere. I can imagine how important and exciting that experience was for them – I’ve been there myself.

Participation in UniSat changed my life: I gained deep technical knowledge and practical skills. I was guided by mentors who I now consider colleagues and lifelong friends. This community gave me the confidence and strength to pursue my goals. That's why I chose to return as a mentor for the UniSat 3.0 cohort – to share my experience, give back to my community, and support new participants in realizingtheir potential.

UniSat opened a window to a world of possibilities. I always believed in my dreams, but I often questioned whether they were achievable. Today, as a mentor, I see things more clearly: success comes through action, even in the face of fear and uncertainty. Watching new participants overcome challenges reminds me that the future of Uzbekistan's aerospace industry is in our hands. That sense of responsibility and pride is what distinguishes my experience as mentor from my time as a participant.

My future goal is to become the first female astronaut of independent Uzbekistan. I am especially passionate about thermodynamics and bioastronautics. I have already conducted several studies in these fields and plan to take my experiments into space.

I want to bring pride to Uzbekistan and show that our girls can reach for the stars through hard work, confidence, and their courage to dream big!