At just 27 years old, Javiera Cortez has made history by becoming the first female astronaut accepted into the prestigious program of the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) in the United States. The PoSSUM program, supported by NASA Flight Opportunities, the Canadian Space Agency and other international entities, offers a unique opportunity to prepare as an astronaut scientist candidate.

Great-granddaughter, granddaughter and daughter of tenientinos, Javiera will represent the O'Higgins Region in the Astronaut Scientist Qualification Program (PoSSUM), an immersive training of three weeks of seminars and five practical days, with international professionals. This project provides the necessary skills to conduct research on the next generation of commercial space vehicles.

“This has been exciting, a roller coaster. When I received the news, I was with my entire family, who are fundamental pillars for me, and I started to cry. It has really been a lot of work to complete all the requirements and get to this moment. My dream is that in the future, Chile goes to space,” she said.

Born in the Andean foothills of Coya, Javiera completed her primary education there, demonstrating extensive academic skills from an early age. She later studied Geological Civil Engineering at the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción and completed a master's degree at the Centre for Studies and Experimentation in Public Works in Madrid.

A legacy of mining and regional pride

Throughout his career, the support of his parents was crucial. His mother, Karla Gómez, a primary school teacher, instilled in him study habits and the value of being a source of inspiration. His father's history as an operator at Codelco División El Teniente sparked his curiosity about mining and engineering.

“Thanks to the company's benefits, I was able to continue my studies at university and then at the master's degree. I studied thanks to the efforts of my parents, and I will always be very grateful. I am proud that my great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father were miners. It was a trigger for me to study engineering and be here now,” said Javiera.

Juan Cortez, her father, explained that “I have worked at El Teniente since 2000. My father worked all his life at Caletones and my grandfather worked here at Coya, when it was still the Braden Copper Company. Javiera was always related to Codelco, in her activities and spaces, we talked about the subject. She always had it in mind, all of that influenced the construction of her story.”

The young Coyina's mother, Karla Gómez, added that "the company has been fundamental in the benefits it provides to its families. I also studied thanks to my husband's work. As I grew up, having access to all those scholarships, health programs and all the benefits, I think the gaps in life have been shortened and that will be appreciated in the future."

It was while studying that the film “Interstellar” finally inspired Javiera’s desire to see a Latina woman in space. Today, almost 10 years later, she is about to fulfill her dream and reach this space milestone.

“Being a coyina, a woman and above all being Chilean is a source of pride. I am very proud, not only of that, but also of my roots, of being a person from the region. Being from a small town in this big world is an honour for me. Showing others that it doesn’t matter where you live or study. If you have a dream you must have the will to fulfil it,” said Javiera.