Happy birthday, Mexican Space Shuttle astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela!

Rodolfo Neri Vela, born in Chilpancingo, Mexico February 19, 1952, is the first astronaut from Mexico and the second Latin-American in space.  He traveled aboard Atlantis (STS-61-B) as a payload specialist in November-December 1985.  

Atlantis (STS-61-B) launches 1985

Back row L-R: Charles Walker, Jerry Ross, Mary Cleave, Sherwood Spring, Rodolfo Neri Vela

Front row L-R: Bryan O'Connor, Brewster Shaw

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off November 26, 1985 from Kennedy Space Center for the 23rd mission of the shuttle program.  The takeoff came just 54 days after the launch of STS-51-J, the quickest turnaround between launches.  Her crew consisted of Commander Brewster Shaw, Pilot Bryan O'Connor, Mission Specialist 1 Jerry Ross, Mission Specialist 2 Mary Cleave, Mission Specialist 3 Sherwood Spring, Payload Specialist Charles Walker and Payload Specialist 2 Rodolfo Neri Vela.

Vela is the first Mexican astronaut in space.  Jerry Ross and Sherwood Spring performed two EVAs to demonstrate the feasibility of assembling large structures in space.

Atlantis returned to Earth December 3 at Edwards Air Force Base.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month - Rodolfo Neri Vela, first Mexican astronaut

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, celebrates and recognizes the contributions made to the U.S. from Hispanic and Latino Americans.

To start,  I'm going to celebrate Rodolfo Neri Vela, the first and only Mexican in space.  Vela's only spaceflight was aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-61-B) as Payload Specialist November - December 1985.

He debuted as a voice actor in 2016 as the intercom announcer for the Institute PA system in the Latin dubbing of Finding Dory.