Realizing Dreams Without Losing Ground - or maybe taking off 🚀? We all have them: dreams that drive us, inspire us, and cast our lives in a special light.
SUZANNA STANDS FOR MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE
But what happens when these dreams collide with the hard ground of reality? Suzanna Randall is a perfect example of how to pursue big dreams without losing touch with reality. As an astrophysicist and one of the first women in Germany to train as an astronaut, she demonstrates that it’s possible to combine vision with a healthy dose of pragmatism – and that the path to the stars often takes unexpected detours.
We sat down with Suzanna to talk about dreams, reality, visions, missions, and a few other things. What resulted is a beautiful and inspiring conversation, which we’ve summarized here for you. So, grab a cozy blanket, make yourself a delicious cup of tea (does the fact that this blog post is written in November give it away?), and dream of the stars with us.
Credit: ESO/P. Horálek
DREAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES: “CELEBRATE MILESTONES AS THEY COME”
As a child, Suzanna Randall dreamed of the stars. She wanted to become an astronaut – an idea that, at first, no one took seriously, including herself. After all, most children go through an astronaut phase. The difference? This phase didn’t pass for Suzanna.
In her high school yearbook, it was noted that she would be the first woman on Mars, prompting amused smirks. Suzanna was simply seen as “a bit different.” But she wasn’t fazed by this. Her dream remained a constant in her life, even though she never pursued it obsessively.
“I never lost sight of my goal, but I also didn’t centre my entire life around it,” Suzanna explains. She prioritized following her passions and interests at any given moment. This led her to study astronomy and astrophysics, conduct research at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) using the Very Large Telescope in Chile, and work as a scientist at the European ALMA Regional Centre at ESO in Munich since 2010. Alongside her scientific work, Suzanna is an inspiring speaker and hosts captivating science shows like Terra X.
All of this culminated in a pivotal moment: during a lunch break, she stumbled upon an online advertisement with the headline “Female Astronaut Wanted.” She seized the opportunity – and today, she is one of two women in Germany training to become an astronaut as part of a private program.
Yet Suzanna is well aware that the road to space is fraught with uncertainty. Whether she will ever actually fly remains to be seen. For her, the art lies in being content with this uncertainty and savouring life in the present. “If you focus everything on a single goal, you risk missing out on life,” she says. Her story shows that dreams don’t always need to be pursued rigidly and linearly – sometimes, the detours are the destination.
Credit: A. Duro/ESO
COMFORT ZONES: THE KEY TO GROWTH AND CONFIDENCE
As part of her training, Suzanna is regularly challenged to step outside her comfort zone and confront her fears. When we asked her for advice for women hesitant to try new things and venture into the unknown, she emphasized the importance of gradually stretching your comfort zone.
“If you don’t regularly expand your comfort zone, it shrinks over time,” Suzanna explains. A life confined to familiar routines can eventually stifle us and limit opportunities for growth.
Even she has faced many such moments. One of her first steps outside her comfort zone was surprisingly simple: going to a restaurant alone. For some, this may seem trivial; for Suzanna, it was a real challenge. “I brought a book – I couldn’t have done it without one,” she admits. She, too, wrestled with the nagging inner voice: “What will people think of a woman dining alone? Doesn’t she have friends?” But she took the plunge and discovered the importance of small steps in building confidence.
The takeaway? Small challenges pave the way for big adventures. For example, if you dream of solo travel, start with dining out alone or a day trip. Gradually, your comfort zone expands – along with your opportunities.
Suzanna also highlights the need to challenge outdated gender roles. Women are often taught to be modest, avoid standing out, and strive to please everyone. Suzanna has learned to question these beliefs and not let societal expectations limit her. She often asks herself:
- What’s the worst that could happen if I’m not liked or I displease someone?
- How will I feel if I ignore my own boundaries?
More often than not, these fears are overblown, and the cost to your well-being outweighs the risk of failing to meet others’ expectations.
A QUESTION FOR THE UNIVERSE
As a scientist, Suzanna is accustomed to asking big questions. We wondered: what would she ask the universe if given the chance? Her answer was deeply personal and relatable:
“The question of why. Why am I here?”
Like most people, Suzanna is fascinated by the search for life’s purpose. Despite her scientific endeavours, she hasn’t found a definitive answer. “That’s why it would be so helpful to outsource this question to the universe,” she laughs. Yes, we’d probably agree… 🪐
Fotos Suzanna Randall: Copyrights Claudia Krahne
FROM ZERO GRAVITY TO ANTARCTICA: A LOVE FOR ADVENTURE
Suzanna’s greatest dream is to fly to space as an astronaut. But what would she do if she could embark on an earthly adventure just as thrilling? Without hesitation, Suzanna says she’d travel to Antarctica. She imagines exploring the pristine wilderness of the continent on a small icebreaker – one of the last regions on Earth untouched by human civilization.
The allure lies in being as far removed from the modern world as possible. She’s also intrigued by the idea of ice diving – something she’s never tried before. Beyond adventure, Suzanna views Antarctica as a symbol of nature’s fragile balance. Despite its remoteness, it’s not immune to human impact: melting glaciers, retreating ice shelves, and shifting ecosystems all point to climate change.
Suzanna hopes to see this unique region while it still exists in its current form.
MISSION AND VISION: SUSTAINABILITY AND FEMALE EMPOWERMENT
For Suzanna, astronaut training is more than a personal adventure. She sees her role as a scientist and aspiring astronaut as a valuable platform to amplify female role models in science.
Her work in astronomy and space exploration aims to inspire girls and women to confidently pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) – fields often perceived as male-dominated. By showcasing her journey, Suzanna proves that women can achieve great things in STEM and beyond.
Another of Suzanna’s goals is fostering solidarity among women. Alongside her colleague Insa, she aims to advance commercial spaceflight, emphasizing teamwork and mutual support.
The media often portrays women as competitive – terms like “catfight” remain ingrained. However, Suzanna’s career has shown her the opposite:
Women support one another, acknowledge each other’s vulnerabilities, and encourage resilience in tough situations. For Suzanna, this solidarity is a superpower. She believes women often bring holistic thinking and empathy, enabling deep collaboration. These traits nurture “female support” – a network where women inspire, strengthen, and uplift each other.
Sustainability is another core value for Suzanna. Together with Insa, she’s working to show that space exploration and environmental protection can go hand in hand. They’re experimenting with plant-based astronaut diets, demonstrating that space meals can be sustainable.
“A plant-based diet can make a huge difference – on Earth and possibly even in space,” Suzanna says. To her, it’s proof that small changes can have significant impacts.
WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY?
Of course, we couldn’t end without a conclusion! Suzanna Randall’s story teaches us that dreams don’t need to be meticulously planned or perfectly executed. They’re like a map pointing us in a direction, but the journey can – and should – be winding, chaotic, and unpredictable.
She also shows that it’s possible to have big dreams without “losing touch” (even if the ultimate goal is to take off 🚀).
For women pursuing their own dreams, Suzanna has a clear message:
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO TRY NEW PATHS.
It’s not about achieving everything but about doing what truly matters to you.
Even while reaching for the stars, never forget to keep your feet on the ground and savour life in the moment. After all, life is a mix of grand dreams and small moments – both equally worth embracing.
Whether as a scientist, speaker, or host, Suzanna Randall inspires with her passion for the universe and her mission to make science accessible. Curious about her projects, exciting talks, and visionary ideas? Be sure to visit her website at www.astrosuzanna.de and get inspired!
The stars are closer than you think.
Atacama Desert Chile – one of Suzannas research locations
Credit: ESO/C. Malin (christophmalin.com); A. Duro/ESO; P. Horálek/ESO; Clem & Adri Bacri-Normier (wingsforscience.com)/ESO;
