In a historic event for the Latin- and Spanish-speaking community, Salvadoran astronaut Frank Rubio discussed his first month of life and work on the International Space Station (ISS) in a live conversation in Spanish with Colombian Diana Trujillo, NASA flight manager.
In this dialogue, which was broadcast live on the channels of the US Space Agency, both took the opportunity to convey an inspiring message to the Latin community.
“It gives us great pride to know that there are so many Latinos who have done great things all over the world, in science and sports. For me, being such a small part of that makes me proud to know that we can help young Latinos,” said Rubio when Trujillo asked him what message he would send. To the Latin Americans who today see a Latino on the International Space Station, Rubio said, “Keep on doing bigger things in the future.”
“I also think a lot about our Latin families, about the boys and girls watching us, especially you from the space station, who can dream and think that they can do the same in the future or now,” the Colombian said. who also thanked the astronaut for the congratulations he sent him at the start of the broadcast on his appointment this year as NASA Flight Director.
Rubio, a Miami native of Salvadoran descent, arrived at the space station on September 21. For six months as a flight engineer and crew member of Expedition 68.
This is Rubio’s first space mission since he became an astronaut in 2017. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned a master’s degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda (Maryland). Prior to attending medical school, he served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and flew more than 1,100 hours, including over 600 hours of limited combat and imminent danger during deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Rubio is a family physician and certified flight surgeon.
About his experience on the International Space Station and about the scientific experiments that are performed on this platform – such as growing plants from space – the astronaut shared with engineer Trujillo.
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