A rocket made by Blue Origin, a company owned by Jeff Bezos, recently managed to fly six people into space. Of the six people, Katya Echazarreta managed to become the first Mexican-born woman to travel into space.
A 60-foot suborbital rocket lifted off from Blue Origin's West Texas facility on Saturday (4/6) local time, hurling a group of people more than 62 miles above Earth's surface, widely considered the boundary of outer space.
Most passengers have to spend an unknown amount to be able to travel to outer space. But interestingly, Katya Echazarreta, an engineer and science communicator from Guadalajara, Mexico, was chosen by a non-profit organization called Space for Humanity to join the mission out of thousands of applicants. This made her the first Mexican-born woman to successfully fly into space.
The organization's goal is to send "extraordinary leaders" into space and allow them to experience the overview effect, a phenomenon frequently reported by astronauts who view Earth from space and give them a major change in perspective. This effect also makes astronauts experience changes in attitude and behavior after returning from space.
Echazarreta also reported experiencing the overview effect in her own way.
"Looking down and seeing how everyone was there, all our pasts, all our mistakes, all our obstacles, everything was there. And the only thing I can think of when I come back is that I want other people to see this. "I need Latinos to see this. And I think it really reinforces my mission to keep raising, especially women and people of color, into space and doing whatever they want to do," Echazarreta told CNN.
Echazarreta is the first Mexican-born woman to travel into space and the second Mexican after Rodolfo Neri Vela, a scientist who joined one of NASA's Space Shuttle missions in 1985.
Echazarreta moved to the United States with her family at the age of seven. At that time, he was overwhelmed to adapt to a new place, especially about the language used.
"It really got me going and I think since then, since the third grade, I've been fighting," recalls Echazarreta.
When he was 17 and 18, Echazarreta said he also became the main breadwinner for his family by working as an employee at McDonald's.
"Sometimes I have up to four [jobs] at the same time, just to try to finish college because it's really important to me," she said.
Currently, Echazarreta is in the process of earning her master's degree in engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, he worked at NASA's renowned Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.
He also has a following of over 330,000 users on TikTok, hosts a science-focused YouTube series and is a presenter on the weekend CBS show "Mission Unstoppable".
The reason Space for Humanity chose Echazarreta to fly into space was because of her impressive contribution.
"We're looking for some people who are leaders in their communities, who have a sphere of influence; people who are already doing some really great work in the world, and people who are passionate about whatever it is," said Rachel Lyons, non-profit organization director. executives, told CNN Business.
Echazarreta said she was motivated to become a public figure after working at JPL.
"There are so many people in this world who dream the same things that I dream of. But I don't see them here. So what happened? It's not enough for me to just succeed and be there. I also need to help bring other people along. with me," he said.
Wow, I hope Katya Echazarreta's inspiring story can motivate you to achieve your dreams!