Mark your calendars for an inspiring episode of Red Planet Live on Tuesday, February 27th at 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET.
We’re honored to host former NASA astronaut Jose M. Hernandez alongside his son, Dr. Julio Hernandez, a researcher at Purdue University and former Mars analog astronaut.
Jose worked at NASA Johnson Space Center from 2001 to 2011, where he served as an astronaut, legislative analyst, branch chief, and materials research engineer. He was on the STS-128 shuttle mission, during which he oversaw the transfer of thousands of pounds of equipment between the shuttle and the International Space Station and helped with robotics operations.
More recently, Jose serves as President and CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, LLC, a California-based engineering consulting firm that focuses on aerospace engineering, non-destructive evaluation, failure analysis, and general engineering services.
Last year, Amazon released “A Million Miles Away”, a biopic film about Jose and his inspiring path as a migrant worker from Mexico to an American astronaut. Starring actor Michael Pena, the movie received high acclaim as a “great family movie with messages of determination and perseverance.”
Julio is a Characterization and Research Engineer at the Hypersonics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center within the Purdue Applied Research Institute. He obtained his Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in July 2023, focusing on self-sensing composite materials and additive manufacturing.
In addition, he previously served as a botanist for Crew 245 during his two-week tenure as a Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) analog astronaut in 2021.
To reserve your spot for RPL (which will allow you to submit questions during the virtual broadcast), please register online.
Join us for an hour of captivating conversation, expertly hosted by Ashton Zeth. We look forward to your participation!
RED PLANET LIVE is a monthly live podcast from The Mars Society – Ashton Zeth interviews the people instrumental in exploring and settling Mars. The show will focus on a wide variety of topics, including Mars and space exploration, STEM education, technology, women in science, astrobiology, the aerospace industry, and much more, with exciting and open discussions involving experts in these respective fields.
