Círculo de Puerto Rico, Inc. proudly celebrates Deborah Martorell, a pioneering Puerto Rican meteorologist who recently became the first Boricua meteorologist to travel into space. On August 3, 2025, Martorell flew aboard Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission, experiencing weightlessness as the capsule soared past the Kármán line—the recognized edge of space. She was joined on this historic flight by five other crew members: Gopi Thotakura, Mason Angel, Carol Schaller, Sylvain Chiron, and Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate selected in 1961 [1].

But going to space is not the only achievement worth highlighting. Martorell reached this milestone thanks to years of dedication and hard work. She was selected because she is a highly respected science communicator. Her reporting on environmental and space topics has earned her eight Emmy Awards and two Awards of Excellence in Science Reporting from the American Meteorological Society. She was also selected for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences’ Project PoSSUM, and serves as a Solar System Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [2].

Her love for Puerto Rico was also front and center during the mission. She included the shape of the island on the official NS-34 mission patch, and flew to space with Coquinauta, a zero-gravity indicator designed and 3D printed by students from the Technology Club at Dr. Carlos González School in Aguada, Puerto Rico [1].

Deborah Martorell’s journey is not just a personal triumph—it’s a powerful symbol of Puerto Rican pride and a shining inspiration for future generations to dream big and reach for the stars.

Citations

[1]: El Nuevo Día. August 02, 2025. "¡Con Puerto Rico en el pecho! Deborah Martorell viaja al espacio en una misión de Blue Origin". August 04, 2025.

[2]: Satnews. August 03, 2025. "Blue Origin’s successful Sunday launch of New Shepard’s 34 mission". August 04, 2025.

Find original images at Blue Origin.