Dreaming the Impossible | NASA Astronaut José M. Hernández | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Hispanic astronaut shares his inspiring journey to space through perseverance and dedication.

Transcript

Mario: Hello. Good afternoon everyone. My name is Mario [inaudible]. I'm originally from Mexico and I work in Platforms here as a software engineer. This is part of my 20 percent and today we have a great speaker. Just to give you a little bit of background, a couple of Googlers got together about a year ago and we said, "Why can't we do differe... Read More

Key Insights

• ✊ Jose Hernandez's journey from migrant farm worker to NASA astronaut exemplifies the power of perseverance and determination.
• 👾 Collaborative efforts with NASA and diverse space initiatives drive innovation and technological advancement in space exploration.
• 👾 Inspirational role models like Franklin Chang-Diaz inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM fields and space exploration.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Jose Hernandez to become an astronaut?

Jose Hernandez was inspired by astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, who showed him that despite humble beginnings, achieving success in space exploration was possible. This motivated Jose to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut.

Q: How did Jose Hernandez's background influence his journey to space?

Coming from a migrant farm working family, Jose's parents instilled a strong emphasis on education, nurturing his dream of space exploration. His experiences of hard work and perseverance shaped his path to becoming an astronaut.

Q: What challenges did Jose Hernandez face during the astronaut selection process?

Jose applied to NASA 12 times before being selected as an astronaut, facing rejection and setbacks. This process required resilience, perseverance, and continuous improvement in his qualifications and experience.

Q: What role did collaboration and diversity play in Jose Hernandez's mission to space?

Jose's mission involved teamwork with an international crew, showcasing the importance of collaboration and diversity in space exploration. Working together with individuals from different backgrounds enhanced the success of the mission.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mario introduces a renowned Hispanic role model, Jose Hernandez, who shares his journey from migrant farm worker to NASA astronaut.

• Tiffany Montague discusses the importance of space initiatives and collaboration with NASA for future technological advancements.

• Gonzalo Begazo highlights Jose Hernandez's achievements in engineering, space exploration, and education advocacy.