Hi everyone! My name is Alexia Hoffman and I am a high school student in Houston, Texas. I have been interested in space exploration for most of my life as my grandmother inspired me to explore our solar system and be curious about the planets. Last summer, I volunteered at NASA Space Center as an assistant teacher for 5 to 11-year-old summer camp visitors. I led tours through the Astronaut Gallery and helped direct STEM activities. I am also an intern at Moonflower Farms (a NASA spinoff), which focuses on growing vegetables via vertical hydroponic systems that save space, weight and provide greater nutrients. I was recently accepted into NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars program which is a year long experience where I will learn about Earth science, technology and aeronautics. At the end of the program, I will be able to join project Moonshot and work with actual NASA engineers on real space exploration projects. Outside of school work, I play competitive golf and play for the girls varsity team at my school.

My generation is likely to experience space travel as a lived reality, not a distant dream that somebody else gets to do. Through my work in space agriculture, health research, and public engagement at NASA, I have seen how astronaut survival systems connect directly to daily challenges we face here on Earth. I’ll show how space survival systems can inspire us to build a future where our on-the-ground communities are stronger, resources are protected, and humanity thrives together.