After Almost 20 Years Operating Mars Rovers, NASA Geologist Lauren Edgar's Dream of Stepping on the Red Planet

Lauren Edgar has dedicated nearly two decades of her life to unraveling the mysteries of our cosmic neighbors—the Moon and Mars. As a geologist at NASA, she's been the guiding hand behind rover missions, analyzing data from distant worlds and even helping craft science experiments for the Artemis program. But now, at a pivotal moment in her career, Edgar is stepping out from behind the console to chase a lifelong dream: becoming an astronaut and, one day, setting foot on the Red Planet herself.

It all started back in the early 2000s when Edgar joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. There, she immersed herself in the thrilling world of planetary science, working on projects like the Mars Exploration Rovers—Spirit and Opportunity—that captivated the world with their discoveries of ancient water flows and potential signs of past habitability. "I've spent years dreaming up what astronauts might do on Mars," Edgar shared in a recent interview. "The idea of being the one to actually do it? That would be a dream come true."

Her transition to astronaut candidacy isn't just a personal milestone; it reflects NASA's push to blend scientific expertise with hands-on exploration. Edgar's background in designing experiments for future lunar missions has already proven invaluable. For Artemis—the agency's program to return humans to the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars—her work has focused on how astronauts can safely collect and study samples in harsh environments. Now, as one of the candidates in the latest astronaut class, she's undergoing rigorous training that includes survival skills, spacewalk simulations, and the high-stakes teamwork needed for deep-space journeys.

What makes Edgar's story so inspiring is its human element. She's not just a scientist; she's a mother, a mentor, and someone who's seen the evolution of space exploration firsthand. From the grainy images of the first Mars rovers to today's high-resolution vistas from Perseverance, her career has mirrored humanity's growing ambition to reach beyond Earth. "It's humbling to think about the team effort it takes," she says. "From engineers building the hardware to the operators like me keeping the rovers rolling—everyone plays a part."

As NASA accelerates plans for Mars missions in the 2030s, candidates like Edgar embody the next generation of explorers. Her potential journey to the Red Planet could bridge the gap between robotic scouts and human pioneers, bringing us closer to answering age-old questions about life in our solar system.

For the full story, read the original article on Space.com.