Orlando Figueroa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orlando Figueroa
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| Born | September 9, 1955 (age 69) |
| Nationality | United States (Puerto Rican) |
| Occupation | Mechanical Engineering, scientist |
Orlando Figueroa, born on September 9, 1955, is a brilliant scientist and engineer. He worked for NASA, the United States space agency, for many years. He was known for his important work with Mars exploration. He also held leadership roles at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Mr. Figueroa retired from NASA in 2010.
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Early Life and Education
Orlando Figueroa was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he was a child, he loved to figure out how mechanical toys worked. He spent a lot of time building things and solving puzzles.
As he grew up, he became very good at math. The start of the space age, when humans first began exploring space, really caught his attention. He would look at the stars and the Moon and dream about traveling into space himself.
Figueroa went to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. In 1978, he earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He then continued his studies at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Working at NASA
In 1982, Orlando Figueroa began his career at NASA. He became the head of the Cryogenics Technology Section at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Cryogenics is the study of very low temperatures.
Throughout his time at NASA, Figueroa held many important jobs. He was a lead engineer for special equipment used to study the universe. He also managed projects like the Small Explorer Project. Later, he became the Director of Systems, Technology, and Advanced Concepts.
Leading Mars Exploration
In 1997, Figueroa joined the Senior Executive Service of the U.S. Federal Government. This is a group of top leaders in the government. In 2003, he became the Director for the Solar Systems Division at NASA Headquarters. He also took on the role of Director for Mars Exploration.
As the Director of Mars Exploration, Figueroa led a huge team. Hundreds of scientists and engineers worked with him. Their main goal was to find out if life ever existed on Mars. A long-term goal of the program is to eventually send humans to Mars.
Under his leadership, the Mars Explorer Rover mission launched two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, in 2004. Launching two rovers so close together was a big achievement. It was done in just three years, from the first idea to the actual launch. This was especially impressive after some earlier Mars missions had faced problems.
Later Roles at Goddard Space Flight Center
In 2005, Mr. Figueroa became the Director for System Safety and Mission Assurance at the Goddard Space Flight Center. This meant he was in charge of making sure missions were safe and successful.
Later that year, he was named Director of Applied Engineering and Technology at Goddard. In this role, he guided over 1,300 employees. He helped them with engineering and technology for space missions. In 2010, he became the Deputy Center Director for Science and Technology at Goddard. Mr. Figueroa lives in Maryland with his family.
Awards and Honors
Orlando Figueroa has received many awards for his amazing work. He was even given an honorary doctor's degree. Some of his other awards include:
- The NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1993)
- The Community Stars Award from the Maryland Science Commission (1994)
- The President Rank Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Executive (2001)
- The Pioneer Award (2002)
- Named "The Most Influential Hispanic in the Nation" by Hispanic Business magazine (2002).
See also
- Puerto Rican scientists and inventors
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Ricans in the United States Space Program
- University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez people
