Sixteen-year-old Thomas Machingaidze has achieved a groundbreaking milestone as the first Zimbabwean to be accepted into a degree program at the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences in the United States, where he will receive training to become an astronaut.
In an interview with ZBC news, Machingaidze shared his journey towards this accomplishment from his family home in Borrowdale, Harare. He recounted how it all began at the Advanced Space Academy at the US Space and Rocket Centre, where he formed connections with experienced astronauts. His team excelled in a Mars Landing simulation and won the prestigious Commanders Cup, making him the first black Zimbabwean and the only black individual in a field predominantly dominated by white minds.
His remarkable achievements led to his acceptance into the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences, making him the first Zimbabwean to earn this distinction. Machingaidze expressed his passion for immersive experiences, which included wearing real-life spacesuits, experiencing high G/zero-G flights, and even piloting an X300 plane. Each endeavor deepened his fascination with the cosmos.
Driven by a shared vision of exploration and discovery, Machingaidze aims to become a fully-fledged astronaut by 2030, serving as an inspiration to Zimbabwean youth and demonstrating their capabilities to conquer the world.
