Dr. Katya “Kat” Echazarreta: First Mexican-Born Woman in Space

Dr. Katya “Kat” Echazarreta, the first Mexican-born woman in space, is an electrical engineer, science communicator, and civilian astronaut. Echazarreta worked at NASA, first as an intern during her university undergraduate career, and later, with five NASA missions including Perseverance and Europa Clipper Ground Support Equipment group. She is a first-generation student who initially enrolled at a community college and then transferred to UCLA where she earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. As an education advocate and former McDonald’s restaurant crew member, Echazarreta is partnering with McDonald’s USA to encourage Hispanic students to pursue higher education as part of the HACER® (Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources) Education Tour, where she will host one-on-one, in-person mentorship sessions with Hispanic college-bound students.