Jackelynne Silva-Martinez, a Peruvian who brings us closer to the moon

Jackelynne Silva-Martinez is a mechanical and aerospace engineer, born in Cusco, and is getting closer and closer to bringing humans closer to life on the moon. She was recently chosen as one of the 50 most powerful Peruvian women, according to Forbes, for her work as director of engineering and human systems integration in the Lunar Gateway Program, part of the Artemis mission, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA. 

Her story begins, like that of many Peruvians, in that amazement for our wonderful culture; in this case, in her native Cusco. "My dream (to participate in projects about the moon) started in different phases of my childhood. With my parents I used to visit archaeological sites and, living in the midst of all that rich architecture that the Incas left us, I was inspired. I saw that their structures were very advanced, without having the tools or machinery we have today," she explains.

Later, her school years set a precedent in her life, as she developed an attachment to science studies, attending lectures and participating in activities about this space universe, before her arrival in the United States at the age of 15. As soon as she arrived in North America, she wondered: "Why not study a career to fulfill my goal? In college, I began to talk more with professors about my passion for space exploration, until I was given the opportunity to participate in a conference to present my research work on lunar structures, which was attended by people with a lot of experience in this field. It was very rewarding," she recalls.

A spatial experience to continue

It has been 15 years since Jackelynne began her development in the aerospace industry. Although the destination -the moon- may sound far away, she has shown that it is possible to be close. "During these years that I have been in this work, I have traveled several times to Cusco and other cities in my beloved Peru. In Cusco, I had the opportunity to speak and give talks at my school, María de la Merced, and at the National University of Saint Anthony the Abad. The satisfaction is enormous because many of the young people I met when they were at school or college are now back in higher education or doing space-related projects," she says. 

Her story inspired many Peruvians, some of whom are being mentored by her and are also participating in space programs. "We come from an Inca empire composed of great architects and engineers. No matter where we are or where we go, we should feel proud of our roots and carry the name of our country high," she said.

More info:

• Dr. Jackelynne Silva-Martinez, Ph. D., a mechanical and aerospace engineer, currently works at NASA and has been working in the aforementioned field for 15 years.