Former NASA astronaut José Hernández delivers the keynote address Wednesday during the Greater Brownsville Space Summit, hosted by the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation at Livivo Music Hall in Brownsville. Hernández shared his journey from working as a migrant farmworker to becoming an astronaut, emphasizing perseverance and the importance of pursuing one's dreams.
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Former NASA astronaut and engineer José Hernández shared his journey from working in agricultural fields to traveling into space during Wednesday’s keynote address at the Greater Brownsville Space Summit, organized by the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation (GBEDC).
The event took place at the Livivo Music Hall in Brownsville, bringing together community leaders, industry professionals and students.
Other speakers at the summit included Brownsville Mayor John Cowen Jr.; Nathan Ohle, president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council; Norman Garza Jr., executive director of the Texas Space Commission; and Gilberto Salinas, president and CEO of GBEDC.
During his keynote, Hernández reflected on his upbringing in a migrant farmworker family and challenges he faced while pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut.
“To me, the moral of my story is it doesn't matter where you start. What matters is where you want to go,” Hernández said.
He recalled watching the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972 at age 10, an experience which inspired him to pursue a career in space exploration.
Hernández said his father encouraged him to pursue his dream and shared five principles for success: “defining a purpose, recognizing the distance from a goal, creating a roadmap, preparing for challenges and working hard.”
He later added a sixth principle: “perseverance”.
“NASA rejected me not once, not twice, not three or four times, but 11 times,” Hernández said. “It wasn't until the 12th time that I became a U.S. astronaut.”
Hernández recalled nearly giving up after his sixth rejection until his wife, Adelita, encouraged him to continue applying and examine what successful applicants held that he lacked.
He began investing in himself, earning pilot and scuba diving certifications, and taking an assignment in Russia which provided experience relevant to future international space missions.
“Don't be afraid to invest in yourself using your own resources to make yourself like the people you want to be like,” he said.
Hernández was eventually selected for NASA's astronaut program and served as a flight engineer aboard space shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission to the International Space Station.
He also encouraged attendees to enjoy the process of pursuing their ambitions rather than focusing solely on outcome.
Beyond Hernández's keynote, this summit highlighted the region's growing aerospace industry and ongoing economic development initiatives.
Marlene Murillo, community outreach manager for GBEDC, said the summit aims to inform residents about ongoing projects and their potential impact on Brownsville.
“We want to show them, OK, this is what's going on, this is what's coming, and, you know, this is how it's going to help our community,” Murillo said.
She further emphasized the significance of Hernández's story for the region's Hispanic community, particularly his perseverance in pursuing a career in space exploration.
“He persevered, he continued, and look, he went to space,” Murillo said.
Murillo added Hernández's experience demonstrates what members of the community may accomplish despite the challenges they face.
“It's good for our community to see that it can be done,” she said.
For Jimena Olvera, a junior at RYSS Early College at Brownsville, Hernández's story highlighted the importance of perseverance and having a strong support system.
“How he kept on trying and didn't give up,” Olvera said. “I realized the importance of having people that support you and are there for you to listen to you.”
Reflecting on what she learned from the keynote, Olvera said she hopes to apply the same determination to her own goals.
“To keep trying,” she said. “If you don't like the journey, you might not like the outcome, so you need to keep that in mind as well.”
