Space: A Frontier without Borders
In February, CETYS University hosted NASA engineer and former astronaut Jose Hernandez. As one of the few Mexican NASA astronauts, Jose exemplifies the true meaning of bicultural representation, perseverance and determination.
In sharing his life experience with students, Hernandez emphasized the need for interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to achieve a common goal in space. There, collaboration has no geographical limits.
This view on open collaboration is one I believe should resonate with my colleagues in the greater engineering field, no matter their area of expertise. Our job as engineers requires us to find solutions that appeal to a broad demographic, making the need for diverse teams with different perspectives that much more important. These skills, in fact, are among the most desired in our field today.
José Hernández’s journey is not only an impressive one but also greatly motivating. Regardless of where one may be in their life journey, we can all learn something from his desire to work with others to achieve greatness. Furthermore, collaborating with personalities like Josein the academic front helps institutions like CETYS update and improve our programs and drive joint projects with other universities.
So long as we continue down this path of open collaboration, I am hopeful that our goals of having an academic footprint in space, via satellites and propulsion rocket initiatives where students and faculty play key roles, are achievable.
Here are some of Jose’s most relevant insights:
What lessons can we learn from astronauts and their work with others around the world to reach a common goal of outer space missions/research?
I think the lessons that we can learn is that if we all work together, regardless of what country we’re from, with a common goal we can achieve great things. I think the International Space Station is a perfect example of that. We have an orbiting science lab where we’re learning a lot. We have more than 16 countries who have contributed to its construction. And I think it’s a great example of how the world can work together.
How does space create a new type of collaboration between countries when there are no borders?
I think what exploring space forces us to do is to push the envelope of developing advanced technologies. And a side benefit from these advanced technologies is that we’ll find an application for them here on earth to make our life more comfortable. A good example is our cell phone — I mean, that’s all technology as a result of space development. Communications satellites, DIRECT TV — anything related to communications is a result of pushing the envelope with space exploration.
Why do people from different cultures work so well in space despite any tension they may face on Earth?
I think different cultures work well in space because when you’re up there, you’re not worried about who you are or where you’re from. You’re worried about a common goal, about achieving a common goal. And sometimes when you approach problems, if you have different backgrounds, you approach problems from different perspectives and you’re able to get at an answer a lot quicker.
Do you see further collaboration with CETYS?
I hope so. I work with other universities here in Mexico, and I’m hoping that I can work with CETYS and help them develop projects — hands-on experience for the students to get more experience in the aerospace industry.
Do you have a message for students?
The message I always send is that they should dream big. I try to give them the license to dream big but I also give them a recipe to convert that dream into reality.
Jorge Sosa is Dean of the College of Engineering at CETYS University
