Traveling to space is no longer science fiction, says the first Mexican astronaut who was there

“Here they have their place,” says Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican to travel to space, to women and girls who want to access careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“I would invite women and girls to be interested in what they want to do, but if they want to study careers related to science and technology, I tell them that it is beautiful and super fun and they have their place here,” she said in an interview with UN News.

Katya is a 27-year-old NASA engineer who was chosen by the organization Space For Humanity among 7,000 candidates from 120 countries for a flight that crossed the land border.

From a very young age, she was interested in space issues. And she saw her dreams come true when she got to ride the rocket New Shepard of the company blue origin at more than 3,200 kilometers per hour and exceed 100 kilometers in altitude, the point where space begins.

Bring the space industry to Mexico

“Traveling into space is no longer something from the movies, it is no longer something from science fiction, it is no longer something from the books. This is already here, we are already living it. However, it is not happening in Mexico or Latin America,” says Katya.

She was born in Guadalajara and at the age of 7 she moved with her family to San Diego, in the United States, where they settled. She studied at the University of California, Los Angeles and interned for her at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she was offered a job.

Now he has quit his job at the US space agency to return to Mexico and boost his country’s role in the space race. In this new stage, he plans to promote the construction of an industry and a Mexican space agency.

“Plans already exist for space hotels, balloons that can go up and carry people out of the atmosphere. so that they can have the experience of seeing the planet from space. For this reason, we need to enter this race as Latin American countries and not be left behind,” said Katya.

The Mexican engineer assures that the role of Mexico in the space race must be seen by political leaders as something of the utmost importance, not only because of what it means to invest in science and technology, but also because the space issue constitutes a security issue. national.

“The people who are in charge of decisions must understand that all satellite activity is international. For now, the technology we have is designed by other countrieswhich may have access to our information,” said Katya.

A responsibility

Currently, Katya, who is completing a Master of Science in electrical engineering and computer science at Johns Hopkins University, believes that space opportunities must be opened up for all countries in the world, and not just those countries that have the resources to do so.

“It is a social responsibility on the part of all these countries that are in the space race with the rest of the countries, that want to access it, so that we can also enjoy all its benefitslike having our own technology and our own astronauts on the moon and on Mars,” concluded Katya, who wants to return to space representing her country.

Katya Echazarreta is a clear example that eliminating stereotypes and inequalities Increasing the participation, employment and leadership of women in science, technology and innovation is a sure way to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Her activism is focused on the access and inclusion of minorities in space programs.

This report has been produced by the United Nations Information Center in Mexico