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 brilliant Colombian-American aerospace engineer. She works at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Diana is famous for her work on Mars missions. She helped design the robotic arm for the Perseverance rover. On February 18, 2021, she hosted NASA's first Spanish-language broadcast of a planetary landing. This broadcast showed the Perseverance rover landing on Mars.

Who is Diana Trujillo?

Diana Trujillo's journey to NASA is truly inspiring. She overcame many challenges to achieve her dreams. Her story shows that hard work and determination can lead to amazing accomplishments.

Early Life in Colombia

Diana was born in 1983 in Cali, Colombia. From a young age, she loved science. She often wondered about the world around her. She also questioned traditional ideas about what girls could do. Diana attended a special bilingual school. This school helped her develop her skills.

Journey to the United States

At seventeen, Diana moved to the United States. She had very little money. She was determined to find new opportunities. To improve her English, she took lessons at Miami Dade College. She also worked several jobs, including as a housekeeper. This helped her support herself while studying.

Becoming an Engineer

Diana first studied aerospace engineering at the University of Florida. She was inspired by an article about women in space missions. She knew she was good at math. While there, she applied for the NASA Academy. She became the first Hispanic immigrant woman accepted into this program.

During her time at the Academy, she met Brian Roberts. He was a NASA expert on robots. He encouraged her to move to Maryland. This move helped her get closer to the aerospace industry. Diana then attended the University of Maryland. 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 book!

Exploring Mars with NASA

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

Working on the Curiosity Rover

Diana had many important roles. She helped with the Curiosity rover mission to Mars. One of her jobs was to make sure the rover could collect samples. She also developed the Dust Removal Tool. This tool took six months to create. It brushes dust off the Martian surface. This allows scientists to see the rocks and soil underneath. The Dust Removal Tool was first used on Curiosity's 151st day on Mars.

In 2009, she became the telecom systems engineer for Curiosity. She made sure the rover could talk to scientists on Earth. She also worked as a Flight Ground Systems Engineer. Diana was at JPL when Curiosity successfully landed on Mars. In 2014, she became a Mission Lead. That same year, she was recognized as one of the 20 most influential Latinos in technology.

Leading the Perseverance Rover's Robotic Arm

Diana Trujillo was a flight director for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. She led the team for its robotic arm. This arm is crucial for collecting samples on Mars. In February 2021, she made history. She hosted NASA's first-ever Spanish-language broadcast of a planetary landing. Millions watched as Perseverance landed safely on Mars.

Inspiring Future Scientists

Diana is passionate about inspiring young people. She works to encourage young women, especially those from Latin American and African-American backgrounds. She wants them to pursue careers in science and engineering. She has participated in many events. For example, she discussed the movie "Hidden Figures" at the University of Southern California. She also helped create the Brooke Owens Fellowship. This program supports young women in aerospace. In June 2020, Diana joined the fellowship's Executive Board.

Awards and Recognition

Diana Trujillo has received many honors for her work and dedication:

• 2011 Shared the STEM Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
• 2017 Received the Bruce Murray Award for Excellence in Education and Public Management from Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• 2017 Named one of Los 22 Más by the Colombian Embassy in the United States.
• 2018 Featured on CBS' celebration of Women's History Month.
• 2019 Awarded the City of STEM Icon Award.
• 2021 Awarded the rank of Commander (Comendador) in the Order of Boyaca. This is Colombia's highest honor for exceptional service.
• 2021 Awarded the order of merit Policarpa Salavarrieta by the Congress of Colombia on March 8, 2021.

Personal Life

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

See also

In Spanish: Diana Trujillo para niños