When in 2017 the Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Aymette Medina Jorge He packed his life in a suitcase and left for Florida in search of new opportunities.
However, The Puerto Rican educator did not go empty, because she left behind a marked legacy, among other things, by the implementation of the first underwater robotics program on the island.
What began as a club that in the beginning was composed of 113 students, including only 11 girls, soon began to expand and, with it, the teacher expanded her aerospace initiatives in order to bring science to everyone.
That same passion led her to settle two years later in Houston, the center of the space city, where she directs programs today Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Now, after 16 years in the teaching, his dedication will be rewarded once more. But this time it will not be a recognition, but the realization of a dream that had always longed for: the opportunity to travel to space.
It was a December 26 when, surrounded by other people in a store, Medina Jorge received a message that confirmed his ticket as part of the Shepard NS-32 crew, from the Blue Origin Aerospace Company.
“I wanted to jump, jump, cry, shout. But I swallowed and controlled myself,” He related to The new day The teacher while remembered the special moment.
“It excites me so much that we will be able to put a Puerto Rican in space again. I love the idea of being the first Hispanic to upload. The first was Joseph Justá. And what a coincidence that the first Hispanic teacher to climb is Puerto Rican. And then now comes the first teacher, the female and is also Puerto Rican “he shared.
Although the trip is a brief journey, Medina Jorge, whose assistance was confirmed yesterday by Blue Origin, said the mission seeks to unite Latin America, especially in the educational and environmental conservation aspect.
“I love the idea that Spanish is spoken in the capsule, because I am going to speak Spanish (…) I am also the first teacher to fly in a commercial vehicle. Before the government’s space agencies were the ones that dictated the guidelines in the industry. But now that is changing, ”he said.
“We are in full space revolution and the people of the private company are the one who is taking the baton (…) and are changing that paradigm that there must be more inclusion and openness to normal, common and current people like you and how I can have the opportunity to fly to space,” he said.
“It’s wonderful because we are looking for: bringing the space to people who really couldn’t have that contact.”he added.
But stinging his ticket was not a task free of obstacles.
“It was Joseph Fuestá, who in fact told me to come to Houston to the Teacher Conference (…) And you know how it is. One of the things we have is that it doesn’t matter where we are, we always shake hands”He said with a laugh.
In Texas, the educator, who taught at the intermediate and higher school Odyssey Academy, dedicated himself to connecting and meeting people from the aerospace industry.
In 2023, it was one of the containers of the Trailblazing Stem Educator Award award, awarded by the Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
“The director of my school submitted my nomination and I did not find out until later. The engineer and associate chief of the International Space Station (ISS) also nominated me. I won it and that was that I began to meet people in Blue Origin,” he said.
Medina Jorge wanted to travel to space, but for this I was going to need a sponsor, a task that could be difficult.
“But you know how we are the Puerto Ricans. We are going to here. There is no one to stop us.”said.
He was soon approached by similar pharmacies, a Mexican company, which introduced one of its foundations.
“They introduced me to a doll and asked them what they wanted to do with him. They told me: if it were for the CEO, we would take him to space. And I told them that he had the person for it,” he said.
Thus began the conversations and negotiations that extended for a year until an agreement was reached. Blue Origin has not yet revealed the date of the mission, but it tends to make it known five days before the flight.
“The future is in Stem races”
For the teacher, the future of the industry is found in Stem races, a field that has more and more women’s presence.
“There are millions of worldwide positions that have not been covered (…) There is room for us as females. There is space and there is an openness. We must form”he reflected.
“Every time, there are more women, more girls, ending university and graduating. And that seems wonderful because it is exactly what we need. We need more women to enter this type of fields,” he shared.
Medina Jorge urged girls and young people to persevere and fulfill their dreams.
“That is the important thing, that they do not take off, to give it pa’alante. As we say, You have to get the Puerto Rican claw “he concluded.