Alive In Space

Chapter 1

Cortez currently holds her place as one of only 7 people selected to begin NAASR astronaut candidate training in August.

"I want to be outgoing," Cortez said.

Cortez's career began after getting a briefing on the NAASR space program while working for her country as a doctor and a surgeon more than 3 years earlier. Then, an opportunity came to her and she instantly grab a hold onto it. 

"NAASR posted a Facebook release that they were going to be taking applications," she said.

And with that, her journey to becoming an astronaut began.

I turned my phone off and left it on my bed. Iniangat ko lang ang  dalawa kong paa sa hangin habang suot ang puting pares ng medyas. Tamad at pabagsak ko iyong ibinaba sa kama saka naupo nang maayos habang sinusuot ang tsinelas. 

Tinignan ko ang orasan at alas-singko palang ng umaga rito. Tumayo na ako at naghilamos sa banyo. I was just wearing a white sweater and black sweatpants. Napakaaga kong nagising dahil na rin sa alarm ko at doon ko nakita ang sinend na link ng kapatid ko. It was just an article that was published more than a year ago, it was about the astronaut candidates including me. Talagang nagpapalakas lang sakin dahil siguro may gusto na namang ipabili. 

Nag-ayos lang ako nang kaunti saka lumabas ng kwarto kasama ang maliit kong aso. I live alone in this big ass apartment and even if I try to deny it, I still feel alone sometimes. Halos apat na taon na ako rito, minsan lang umuwi sa Pinas tapos hindi pa sila makapunta rito. Not the wisest decision I've ever made but I got a dog, a puppy actually 'cause it's been a year since I brought her home. I'm not here most of the time so I have to leave her with our landlady, who is very nice to me. Close naman sila, sobra. Byuda na rin kasi siya tapos wala pang anak, malungkot mag-isa. Parang ako siguro.

It's also been a year since we started training and a lot of things happened since then. Classes and more classes everyday, physical trainings, medical procedures, language classes, survival training and even public speaking classes. Two months ago, we finished the basic training and now doing a more advanced practices. Ang iba ay mapupunta sa Lunar missions, sa capcom, ang experienced naman ay kinukuha ng mga aeronatics company matapos ang graduation, which is just a few months from now. Marami nang missions na available ngayon kaya hindi na aabutin ng ilang taon bago ang susunod na flight.

May ilang buwan pa kami para paghandaan lahat ng pwedeng mangyari kung saka-sakaling makalipad nga kami. It's not the first time that humans will step on the red planet, but most of the previous ones failed finish what they're supposed to do there. Technology and science are evolving so much faster than any of us thought.

I walked my dog, Quin, outside the apartment to the breakfast place that I usually go to. Hindi ako masipag magluto kahit marunong naman ako, minsan lang kapag nami-miss ko 'yung pagkaing Pinoy.

 Nag-order ako sa loob at sa labas na naupo para maitali ko si Quin. Good thing she behaves well around people, even with those who she doesn't know. I make a great mom, afterall.

 Wala rin namang ganoong tao rito. I mean, it's five in the morning so I won't really be dissappointed. The sky is in the shade of dark blue, with a tint of pink and orange color. Hindi rin kami kalayuan sa airport kaya halos oras-oras ay may nadaang eroplano sa taas.