From Stargazing in Iraq to Engineering at NASA: The Inspiring Journey of Farah Al Fulfulee
Farah Al Fulfulee’s fascination with the cosmos began at a tender age. As a four-year-old in Iraq, she would often find herself on the rooftop of her family home, captivated by the vast, quiet sky above. This early curiosity about the stars and constellations sparked a lifelong passion for space exploration.
Al Fulfulee recalls, “The sky’s vastness was intimidating, yet it kept pulling me in. I wanted to understand what the stars and the constellations represented.” This burgeoning interest did not go unnoticed by her father, who supported her curiosity by bringing home books and magazines about space. It was through these pages that she first learned about NASA and its mission to explore the universe for the benefit of humanity.
From that moment, young Farah knew she wanted to become an astronaut. “I decided then that I needed to see space up close. My dream was to work for NASA and collaborate with others who shared my passion for exploring the universe,” she reminisced.
However, growing up in the Middle East presented its own set of challenges. Opportunities for pursuing a career in space were limited, especially for girls. Yet, Al Fulfulee was undeterred. Her academic diligence and exceptional skills in science and math earned her a place at the University of Baghdad College of Engineering, where she pursued a degree in electronic and communication engineering. This field of study, akin to electrical and computer engineering programs in the United States, was a stepping stone for Al Fulfulee, who graduated among the top 10 students in her class. She fondly remembers a graduation celebration where students dressed as their future selves. “I wore a spacesuit,” she said, embodying her dream.
Despite her academic achievements, Iraq’s nascent space industry offered few avenues for a budding engineer, particularly a female one. Al Fulfulee accepted a position as a project engineer with a leading Iraqi engineering firm in the IT sector. Her work took her across Iraq, Turkey, and Jordan, but it did not satisfy her aspirations. “Being the sole female engineer, I was mostly assigned to office tasks, which left me unfulfilled,” she explained.
Determined to reach NASA, Al Fulfulee seized an opportunity in 2016 to move to Oklahoma, close to her sister. However, without an American degree or local work experience, she faced significant hurdles in finding engineering roles. For six years, she worked in quality assurance for a human resources software company while completing a MicroMasters program in software verification and management from the University of Maryland. During this time, she also honed her English and leadership abilities.
Her persistence paid off in 2022 when she secured a position with Boeing Defense, Space, and Security as a software quality engineer. Al Fulfulee expressed her excitement, stating, “Joining Boeing brought me closer to my dream. With Boeing’s involvement in the space industry, I knew I could eventually work on a space program.”
Within a year, Al Fulfulee transitioned to a role as a system design and analysis engineer for the International Space Station Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Her responsibilities include developing requirements, monitoring performance, and validating testing for electrical systems and software that support space station payloads. Additionally, she designs hardware, software, and interface specifications for these systems. Al Fulfulee has been a crucial point of contact for NASA, delivering verification assessment and data assessment reports for SpaceX Crew-9, Crew-10, and the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 flight. She is currently involved in testing and verification for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11.
Her journey to NASA has been nothing short of remarkable. “I couldn’t be happier,” Al Fulfulee declared. Yet, her ambitions do not stop here. “I won’t quit until I wear the blue suit,” she asserted, signaling her desire to become an astronaut.
Al Fulfulee is also an enthusiastic contributor to various NASA studies, including the Exploration Atmosphere Studies, which aim to test spacewalk safety protocols in simulated environments. She is furthering her education with a master’s degree in Space Operations Engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Outside of her professional pursuits, she is an avid gardener, experimenting with indoor produce cultivation as part of the Backyard Produce Project. She believes that such knowledge could be vital for future endeavors on Mars.
Inspiring the next generation is also part of Al Fulfulee’s mission. Earlier this year, she spoke at the Women in Tech & Business Summit in Iraq, an event aimed at encouraging Iraqi women to enter technology fields. “I was the sole representative of women in space,” she said, describing the event as a profoundly moving experience. Through her story and practical advice, she hopes to break barriers in aerospace for women worldwide.
Reflecting on her journey, Al Fulfulee acknowledges the challenges she has faced across continents but remains optimistic. “My path is long,” she noted, “but I am enjoying every step of the journey.”
Farah Al Fulfulee’s story is an inspiring testament to resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of one’s dreams, showcasing that with determination and hard work, even the sky is not the limit.
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