Diana Trujillo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diana Trujillo
Born	Diana Trujillo 1983 January 4th Cali, Colombia
Alma mater	Miami Dade College University of Florida University of Maryland, College Park
Known for	Mars Curiosity Rover, Mars 2020
Spouse(s)	William Pomerantz ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	2
Scientific career
Institutions	Jet Propulsion Laboratory Goddard Space Flight Center

Diana Trujillo Pomerantz, born in 1983, is a Colombian-American aerospace engineer who works at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She leads the team that built the robotic arm for the Perseverance rover. This rover is exploring Mars! In 2021, Diana also hosted NASA's first-ever live broadcast of a planetary landing in Spanish. This was for the Perseverance rover's landing on Mars.

Early Life and Education

Diana Trujillo was born in 1983 in Cali, Colombia. From a young age, she was interested in science. She also questioned traditional roles for women.

When she was seventeen, Diana moved to the United States. She had only $300 with her. She wanted to improve her English skills. So, she took English classes at Miami Dade College. She also worked different jobs, including being a housekeeper.

Diana started studying aerospace engineering at the University of Florida. She was inspired by an article about women working on space missions. She also felt confident in her math skills. While at the university, she applied for the NASA Academy. She became the first Hispanic immigrant woman to be accepted into this special program.

During her time at the Academy, she met Brian Roberts, a NASA expert on robots. He encouraged her to move to Maryland. This would help her chances in the aerospace field. Diana then attended the University of Maryland. There, she joined Roberts' research team. They focused on robots used in space. In 2007, she earned her bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering. Her amazing story was even turned into a children's science book! It's called "Mars Science Lab - Engineer."

Her Career at NASA

Diana Trujillo joined NASA in 2007. She first worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Later, she moved to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. There, she worked on missions involving both humans and robots in space.

She has had many important jobs. For example, she was the lead for the Surface Sampling System. She also led the team for the Dust Removal Tool. This tool was designed to brush dust off the surface of Mars. This allowed scientists to see and study the ground underneath. It took her six months to create this tool. It was first used on the Curiosity rover on its 151st day on Mars.

In 2009, Diana became a telecom systems engineer for the Curiosity Rover. This meant she was in charge of how the spacecraft communicated with scientists on Earth. She also worked as a Flight Ground Systems Engineer. She was at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory when the Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars. In 2014, Diana was promoted to Mission Lead. That same year, she was named one of the 20 most influential Latinos in the Technology Industry.

Diana also worked as a flight director for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover's robotic arm. In February 2021, she hosted NASA's first live show about a planetary landing in Spanish. This was a big moment for many people!

Diana is very passionate about inspiring young people. She works to encourage young women, especially those from Latin America and African-American backgrounds. She wants them to consider careers in science and engineering. She even took part in a discussion about the movie Hidden Figures. She was with actress Octavia Spencer and musician Pharrell Williams. She also helps mentor students through the Brooke Owens Fellowship. She helped create this program with her husband, Will Pomerantz.

In June 2020, Diana joined the Executive Board of the Brooke Owens Fellowship. She also received the Bruce Murray Award from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This award is for excellence in education and public engagement. In 2018, she was featured on CBS during their celebration of Women's History Month.

Personal Life

Diana Trujillo married Will Pomerantz in 2009. They have two children together.

Awards and Honors

• 2011 Shared the STEM Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
• 2017 Named one of Los 22 Más by the Colombian Embassy in the United States.
• 2017 Bruce Murray Award for Excellence in Education and Public Management.
• 2019 City of STEM Icon Award.
• 2021 Awarded the rank of Commander (Comendador) in the Order of Boyaca. This is the highest honor for Colombian citizens. It is given for amazing service to Colombia.
• 2021 Awarded the order of merit Policarpa Salavarrieta by the Congress of Colombia on March 8, 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Diana Trujillo para niños