The capsule in which Deborah Martorell trained before seeing the Earth from space will now have a new mission: land in Puerto Rico to bring that dream closer to children, young people and families on the island.
Months after the meteorologist waved the Puerto Rican flag when leaving the New Shepard capsule as part of Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission, a key piece of the path that prepared her for that experience will arrive in Caguas.
In a press release, Martorell announced the start of the tour “Puerto Rico to Space”which will have as its first headquarters the Municipality of Caguas and the Caribbean Creole Science and Technology Center (C3Tec).
As part of the initiative, in the coming days the New Shepard training capsule, used by the meteorologist during her preparation for the suborbital mission, will arrive on the island.
The exhibition will be presented under the concept “Caguas: the Door to Space”with which the city council seeks to promote a new stage of educational and scientific experiences linked to space exploration, innovation and STEAM disciplines.
According to the statement, starting next May 28, C3Tec will offer educational and interactive programming that will include the 3D documentary Hubblethe exhibition “Our Bodies, Our Island and Our Planet”solar observations, meteorite exhibition, engineering workshops with Legos, and more.
“We feel deeply honored and filled with immense pride that Caguas is the first place in Puerto Rico where the New Shepard training capsule will be exhibited. That Blue Origin has chosen Caguas as The Door to Space is no coincidence. It is a recognition of our City’s sustained commitment to science, innovation, technology and the training of new curious, brave and prepared minds,” said the mayor of Caguas, William Miranda Torres.
“Caguas has been investing in that future for years. And today that future visits us in the form of a space capsule”he added.
Martorell, who was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, for its acronym in English) as the 712th human being and the 115th woman to surpass the Kármán line, stated that the tour seeks to inspire new generations to also imagine themselves within the world of science and space exploration.
1 / 10 | In images: this was the trip to space of Deborah Martorell and the crew of Blue Origin’s NS-34. Excited by what she experienced on the morning of Sunday, August 3, 2025, Puerto Rican meteorologist Debora Martorell returned from her first space flight. (Blue Origin) -Blue Origin
“The doors of space are opening for everyone, and if I dreamed it and achieved it, any boy and girl who wants it and works for it will be able to go to space too”said the meteorologist.
The arrival of the capsule occurs after Martorell’s historic participation in the NS-34 mission, which took off in August 2025 from Van Horn, Texas, aboard the New Shepard suborbital vehicle.
During the flight, which lasted 10 minutes and 20 seconds, the meteorologist was part of a crew of six and experienced several minutes of zero gravity before the capsule returned.
On that occasion, Martorell was the last to descend from the capsule, she raised her arms and waved a Puerto Rican flag. Through tears, she thanked her family and the Puerto Rican people for accompanying her in the process.
The executive director of C3Tec, Tasha Endarastressed that the exhibition will be only the beginning of an agenda that will continue until next semester.
“Together with Deborah we have established a program of activities that will continue this exhibition until next semester, focused on science to bring our participants closer to this wonderful world. At C3Tec we firmly believe that science transforms lives and opens doors to the future,” Endara indicated.
Endara added that the capsule can be viewed and photographed free of charge, while the other interactive exhibits will require a special ticket.
Individual tickets will be available at the box office or at www.c3tec.org.
Groups of more than 15 people must make reservations through the 787-653-6391, extension 202or writing to avazquez@c3tec.org.