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 was born on September 9, 1955. He is a talented engineer and scientist who worked for NASA. He was known for leading important projects, especially those exploring the planet Mars.
Figueroa was once the Director for Mars Exploration at NASA. He also held other big roles, like being the Deputy Center Director for Science and Technology at the Goddard Space Flight Center. He retired from NASA in 2010.
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Orlando's Early Life and Education
Orlando Figueroa grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Even as a young boy, he loved figuring out how mechanical toys worked. He spent a lot of time building things and solving puzzles.
When he was in elementary school, he enjoyed creating new things. In high school, he was very good at math. The start of the space age made him dream about space travel. He would look at the stars and the moon, imagining what it would be like to fly among them.
Figueroa went to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. In 1978, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He then continued his studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, taking more advanced engineering classes.
Working at NASA
In 1982, Orlando Figueroa joined NASA. He became the Head of the Cryogenics Technology Section at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. This job involved working with very cold temperatures for space equipment.
Over the years, Figueroa held many important positions at NASA. He was the lead engineer for special equipment on the Cosmic Background Explorer. He also managed projects like the Small Explorer Project and the Explorer Program.
In 1997, Figueroa became a Senior Executive in the U.S. Federal Government. This meant he was in a very high leadership role. 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.
Leading 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. They also aimed to prepare for humans to one day visit the planet.
Under his leadership, the Mars Explorer Rover mission launched two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, in 2004. It was amazing because they launched both rovers within days of each other. This was a huge success, especially after some earlier Mars missions had faced problems. The team achieved this incredible feat in just three years, from planning to launch.
In 2005, Figueroa became the Director for System Safety and Mission Assurance at Goddard. This meant he made sure all space missions were safe and successful. Later that year, he became the Director of Applied Engineering and Technology at Goddard. He was in charge of 1,300 employees and guided them in engineering and technology. In 2010, he became the Deputy Center Director for Science and Technology at Goddard. Orlando Figueroa lives in Maryland with his family.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Orlando Figueroa has received many awards for his hard work and leadership. He even received an Honorary Doctor's Degree. Here are some of his important awards:
- The NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1993)
- The Community Stars Award from the Maryland Science Commission (1994)
- The President Rank Award for Outstanding Performance as 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
