The STS-61-B Atlantis mission in 1985 carried Rodolfo Neri Vela into orbit as the first Mexican citizen to reach space. Serving as a payload specialist, his week-long tenure aboard the shuttle included the deployment of communications satellites and the execution of experimental procedures that established new protocols for orbital food handling during long-duration flight.
Academic Foundation
Neri Vela completed his primary education at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria 2 before enrolling at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical and electrical engineering in 1975. His advanced studies took him to England, where he received a master's degree in telecommunications systems from the University of Essex in 1976. He concluded his formal education in 1979 at the University of Birmingham, where he obtained a doctorate in electromagnetic radiation, followed by a year of postdoctoral research focused on waveguides.
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During the STS-61-B mission, which spanned from 26 November to 3 December 1985, Neri Vela operated within the Atlantis orbiter. Launching at night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission completed 108 Earth orbits, covering approximately 2.4 million miles. His primary responsibilities included the deployment of the MORELOS-B, AUSSATT II, and SATCOM K-2 satellites. Additionally, he conducted the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis experiment and managed a Getaway Special container. The mission concluded with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, with Neri Vela logging over 165 hours in space.
Professional Engineering and Research
Throughout his career, Neri Vela has maintained active membership in professional organizations including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, The Institution of Electrical Engineers, and the Asociación Mexicana de Ingenieros en Comunicaciones Eléctricas y Electrónicas. His research work at the Institute of Electrical Research in Mexico centered on antenna theory, satellite communication systems, and Earth station technology. He currently serves as a full-time researcher and professor within the Telecommunications Department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Contributions to Space Nutrition
Neri Vela influenced standard flight provisioning when he requested the inclusion of tortillas in the shuttle food supply. Unlike traditional bread, tortillas produce minimal crumbs, preventing the risk of loose debris interfering with sensitive cockpit instrumentation in microgravity. Following his successful request, NASA adopted tortillas as a standard food item, as they proved effective for constructing various meal types during subsequent shuttle and International Space Station missions.
Fast facts
- Born: 19 February 1952, Chilpancingo, Mexico
- Mission: STS-61-B Atlantis
- Total flight time: Over 165 hours
- Education: National Autonomous University of Mexico, University of Essex, University of Birmingham
- Awards: International Space Hall of Fame (1991)
- Professional roles: Astronaut, engineer, politician, researcher
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the STS-61-B mission?
It marked the first spaceflight for a Mexican astronaut and involved the deployment of multiple communications satellites and construction technique demonstrations.
What is his current occupation?
He is a professor in the Telecommunications Department and a full-time researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Achievements
- International Space Hall of Fame — 1991
- Educated at University of Birmingham, National Autonomous University of Mexico and University of Essex
- Worked as engineer, astronaut and politician
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