“Unreachable” to Infinite: María José’s Journey to NASA and Beyond

At Cosmic Girls, we believe that when one girl steps into her potential, she opens the door for countless others. María José Palacios González is one of those girls. Growing up, space felt distant, something to admire, but never touch. Today, she has not only walked through the doors of NASA, but is also redefining what’s possible for herself and for girls around the world.

In this conversation, María José shares the moments that changed her perspective, the challenges that shaped her growth, and how Cosmic Girls became part of her journey to turning dreams into action.

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CG: You shared that NASA once felt “unreachable.” What did that feeling look like for you growing up?

María José: During my childhood, NASA didn't feel like a place I could ever reach, but rather something that existed in a completely different reality. I didn't know anyone who had been there, or anyone who worked in anything related to it. It was something I deeply admired, but from afar. I loved astronomy, the planets, the stars, but I had turned it into a hobby, not a tangible dream. I never saw it as a real path for me, but as something reserved for people with very different opportunities from mine.

All that changed when I was finally there, inside the space center. Listening to astronauts,

engineers, scientists... seeing how they work, I understood something that profoundly impacted me: I, too, could be in that space.

At that moment, I understood that the distance was never physical; it was mental.

And if I could speak to my younger self, I would tell her not to see her dreams as something

distant or impossible, but as something she can prepare for. Not to limit her vision of the world before even trying.

Today, that is also the message I try to convey to other children: that they should not reduce their dreams to what seems achievable from where they are, because sometimes the only thing that needs to change is the way they see themselves within those dreams.

CG: What first sparked your love for space and astronomy? María José: This is a very special story for me, and I plan to tell it in more detail in Chapter XVI of my series, Curiosities from the Skies.

I first felt that connection when I was between 8 and 10 years old. At that time, my dad worked far away in the capital to support our family. We saw him very little, and we missed him terribly. So, during a vacation, we decided to travel to Quito to visit him and, at the same time, explore the city for the first time.

I remember that trip very clearly. Together with my dad, we visited the Middle of the World, a place that is already impressive in itself. But what changed everything for me was that there was a planetarium inside.

We went in without really knowing what it was. But when the projection about the universe, about the origin of everything, about space began... I felt something I can't fully describe in words. It was an immediate, profound connection, almost as if something inside me recognized that place.

At that moment, I didn't fully understand what it meant. All I knew was that it had impacted me. Years later, during the pandemic, that curiosity returned with even greater force. I started watching a lot of documentaries, initially about history. But little by little, the algorithm began showing me content about the universe, the origin of the Earth, the stars, and I became completely immersed in that world.

That's when I understood that this connection hadn't been a coincidence. I felt it had always been within me. I can't say I have all the answers about my path, but I do know one thing for sure: my purpose is connected to the universe, to understanding it, exploring it, and sharing it. Because, in the end, we all come from the same place. We are all, in some way, stardust.

CG: What was your first reaction when you saw your name on the selected list? María José: When I found out I'd been selected, I cried. I'm a very sensitive person, so of course, it was an emotional moment. But, to be completely honest, it wasn't just surprise or disbelief. What I felt most was a profound peace.

I knew how much effort I had put into each stage of the selection process. I had given it my all, and I was already proud of myself for even trying. Applying to an international program like this was something I had never done before, and I knew that many people hold back from taking advantage of opportunities like this out of fear: fear of not being good enough.

I felt that fear too, but I still decided to take the risk. And for me, that was already a victory.

So, when I saw my name on the list, I felt incredibly happy and at peace because I knew that, regardless of the outcome, I had already grown through this process.

In a way, it still didn't quite feel real. I still had months of virtual training ahead of me before going to NASA.

The moment it all really hit me was later, at the airport, just before leaving. That's when I felt it: this was really happening. It was surreal, like I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or not.

More than the selection itself, what moved me most was living the experience. That's when

Everything made sense.

First day at the Space Center with the team. I’m the one with orange hair on the left.

CG: What was one moment at NASA that felt completely surreal or unforgettable?

María José: Honestly, it all felt surreal. From standing in front of the astronaut training pool to talking to them, launching a mini-rocket, and even having a visa that said “Space Camp.” I remember seeing a space-themed McDonald's on the way there and thinking how unreal it all seemed. We worked on so many engineering projects, and I even had the opportunity to touch a real piece of the Moon. All those moments were incredible.

But beyond all that, my most unforgettable moment was something very simple: watching a

movie about Katherine Johnson at the NASA theater.

It might seem insignificant compared to everything else, but it meant so much to me. There were 14 of us girls from Ecuador and 12 from Peru, and we had the whole theater to ourselves. The entire room, the whole experience, just for us. For some of the girls, it was even their first time at the cinema.

I remember the joy we felt, especially after long days of intense work and even some stressful moments on our group projects. We were exhausted, but happy. There was a scene with a kiss, and we all laughed while covering the youngest girl's eyes.

That moment is etched in my memory.

Because maybe someday I'll go back. Maybe I'll see rockets again, meet engineers at the same Space Center. But I don't know if I'll ever relive that exact moment: being there, with those girls who came from so far away, sharing something so simple after such an intense journey.

And that's what made it unforgettable.

With the girls from Ecuador and Peru, after a long day at NASA, exhausted, but truly happy.

CG: What did winning first place for your lunar habitat prototype mean to you?

María José: Winning first place with our lunar habitat prototype meant so much more to me than simply receiving an award. Behind that achievement was a story, a process, and tremendous growth.

I didn't win it alone. I shared that moment with my team: three women, one from Peru and two from Ecuador. That experience taught me true teamwork, how to listen, and how to see the world from different perspectives.

When building the prototype, we didn't choose one idea over the others. Instead, we combined our ideas and created something that reflected the essence of each of us. That's what made it special.

But it wasn't an easy process. There was a moment when I felt physically and emotionally

exhausted. I remember going back to the hotel one night and crying from exhaustion. It was one of those moments when everything seemed overwhelming. However, that experience taught me something important: feeling overwhelmed doesn't mean you've failed. It often means you're pushing your limits.

The next day, when we found out we had won first place, it seemed incredible. But beyond the result itself, what impacted me most was everything surrounding it. It taught me not to compare myself to others. At one point, we looked at other teams and thought our project wasn't good enough. But in the end, ours was the one that covered the most ground.

That experience showed me that growth comes from trusting your own process, your team, and your ideas, even when you doubt them.

The moment we found out we had won first place, after everything we had been through.

My team and me

CG: You said, “Where you are born should never determine how far you can go.” What does that mean to you now? María José: That phrase means a lot to me because it reflects a very personal part of my journey. When I went to NASA, I was surrounded by girls from across Ecuador, many of them from larger cities or the capital. When I told them where I was from, most of them didn’t recognize my city. Some even confused it with a nearby, more well-known place.

I come from a small city and an even smaller community. Growing up there, I didn’t have access to the same opportunities or exposure as others. And for a long time, I didn’t fully realize how much that could shape the way you see your own possibilities.

But at the same time, that experience made everything more meaningful.

Seeing my city mentioned in the media because of my journey, and receiving messages of support from people back home, was something I will never forget. It reminded me that I wasn’t just representing myself, but also a place that is often unseen. That’s when that phrase became real to me.

Now, every time I participate in a program or give an interview, I make sure to say it. Because I believe it applies to everyone, no matter where they come from, whether it’s the coast, the mountains, or the Amazon.

You should never feel the need to hide where you are from. Instead, you should be proud of it.

Because you never know how far your journey might take you... Maybe one day, you’ll carry your community all the way to the Moon, the stars, or even beyond.

Standing in front of the NASA plane with a fellow Ecuadorian

CG: What part of that experience still stays with you today? María José: What stayed with me from that experience, and what will stay with me forever, is the human side of it more than the technical one.

Of course, everything was incredibly impressive from a technical perspective. Even something as simple as being given an iPad for classes instead of a notebook felt surreal, considering the different backgrounds we all came from. From the projects we built to seeing real spacecraft to watching engineers work surrounded by thousands of cables and systems, everything was fascinating, and I learned so much.

But at some point, I asked myself: what is the value of technical knowledge if I didn’t also

discover a new version of myself?

What truly stayed with me was the human experience.

The friendships I built with girls from my country and from others. The shared moments, the

sleepless nights, the stress, and the laughter. Realizing that even though we came from different countries, we were all connected by the same sky.

That experience made me understand something very powerful: from space, there are no borders. And that realization is one of the reasons why I later became interested in diplomacy and international cooperation. Because borders should not limit the way we connect as human beings.

We were all there, under the same stars, called by the same curiosity.

So what stays with me today is that connection: the understanding that beyond countries and differences, we are all part of something much bigger, and that we are more connected than we sometimes realize.

More than the projects, it was the people who changed me.

More than the projects, it was the people who changed me.

CG: What inspired your interest in International Studies and diplomacy? María José: What inspired my interest in International Studies, especially from a diplomatic perspective, was a realization I had during my experience at Houston: from space, there are no borders.

That idea stayed with me. It made me understand that the world doesn’t only need scientific

advancement, it needs connection. And science, especially space science, has a unique way of bringing countries together.

As I continued learning, I became interested in the legal and diplomatic side of space. I started exploring topics like international regulations and space law, which only deepened my curiosity.

I still remember when I first started my degree and mentioned my interest in space law. Some people laughed and made jokes, asking if it was about “buying land on the Moon.” At the time, it felt discouraging, but it also showed me how little awareness there is about this field.

However, as I progressed in my studies, I had the opportunity to learn from incredible professors and take courses that actually connected law, policy, and space. We even studied space law in depth, which confirmed that this field is not only real but increasingly important.

That’s why I don’t see science and diplomacy as something that will connect in my future; they are already deeply connected in the present. From international agreements like the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to global frameworks such as the Outer Space Treaty, the entire world is already working under shared rules when it comes to space. Even countries like mine, located in the equatorial region, are part of these global dynamics through phenomena such as the geostationary orbit.

Looking ahead, I would love to contribute to solving some of the challenges we are currently

facing, such as improving international agreements on space debris management or developing policies to reduce light pollution. Both of these require global cooperation, not just scientific knowledge.

To me, this is the clearest example that science and diplomacy are not separate worlds; they are deeply interconnected. And I want to be part of that connection.

At Oxford, a place this journey led me to, where my passion for science naturally connected with diplomacy.

CG: What drew you to Cosmic Girls?

María José: The first time I learned about Cosmic Girls Foundation, and what initially drew me to the community, was the “6 Girls 6 Continents” competition.

It immediately caught my attention because it felt like something truly unique. Bringing together six girls from different continents around the world, perfectly connected with something I have always believed: that space has no borders.

No matter where we come from, what language we speak, or what our beliefs are, we are all

connected under the same sky. That idea resonated deeply with me, so I joined the community through that opportunity. And what I found was that beyond the competition itself, there was a human vision behind it, one that aligned perfectly with my own values.

Over time, being part of Cosmic Girls has become much more than just being part of a

community. I’ve built friendships, even across distance. I’ve met incredible women from different fields, each with their own stories, passions, and perspectives. It has become a space where I feel understood, inspired, and constantly growing.

For me, Cosmic Girls is not just something I joined; it’s something that has genuinely shaped my journey. And it’s hard for me to imagine my path without having found this community. How do you hope to inspire or support other girls through this community?

Through this community, I don’t just want to inspire, I want to take action.

For me, inspiration is not about being seen as admirable, but about encouraging other girls to take that first step and try things that once felt impossible. My goal is not to grow alone, but to grow alongside the incredible women in this community. To learn with them, build with them, and support each other along the way.

One of the ways I am doing this is through a weekly series I started in the forum called Curiosities from the Skies, where I publish a new chapter every Sunday. In this series, I don’t only explore science or astronomy, but also culture and tradition, because without the ancestral connection that many cultures have had with the sky, our understanding of the universe would not be what it is today.

Through Cosmic Girls, I hope to continue creating spaces where curiosity is encouraged, and

where girls can see that no matter their interests, they can always find a connection to the universe.

I also want to support others in simple but meaningful ways: through collaboration,

encouragement, and small words of support. Because sometimes, all we need is one person who reminds us of what we are capable of.

I know that because I have found those people here. So if I can be that person, even for one girl, I know I am fulfilling my purpose.

And I am deeply grateful to Cosmic Girls for coming into my life unexpectedly, for helping me believe in myself, and for giving me a community where I don’t just dream, but take action.

CG: What does “possibility” mean to you today?

María José: According to many definitions, possibility is understood as the ability to do or not do something. In the past, I used to think that if I couldn’t do something, then it simply wasn’t possible for me.

But today, I see it differently. To me, possibility is not just about whether you can or cannot do something, it’s about choosing to try regardless of the circumstances. It’s about taking action even when things feel uncertain, difficult, or out of reach.

Because in the end, possibility is not defined by limitations, but by the decision to move forward anyway.