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Meeting Deborah Martorell
- Isabella Roquette
- Jan 2
- 3 min read
Hello Universe!
Today, I’m going to share my experience meeting meteorologist Deborah Martorell at an event for high school students called "Deborah al Espacio" on November 4, 2025.
Biography
Deborah Martorell studied communication and journalism at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. In 1992, she became a reporter and producer for WKAQ Radio Reloj in Puerto Rico. She made the leap to television in 1994, becoming a reporter for WAPA television.
She began her career as a weather reporter in 1997 when she covered Hurricane
Georges and Tropical Storm Jeanne. Deborah began studying meteorology, seeking to specialize in weather reporting, and completed her degree in 2007 from the University of Mississippi. She was the only meteorologist who remained on the air broadcasting live for both Puerto Rico and the United States during the devastating passage of Hurricane Maria through Puerto Rico in 2017.
She has over 30 years of experience, is a certified meteorologist with the American Meteorological Society, and an Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is a multiple Overseas Press Club Award winner, she received the 2019 Emmy for Weather Anchor Reporter, and four additional Emmys in 2021 for her journalistic work. She was recognized with the American Meteorological Society's Excellence in Science Journalism Award for a Media Meteorologist in 2020. She currently serves as the Chief Meteorologist for TeleOnce, NotiUno, and El Nuevo Día.
Journey to Space
Deborah is a highly respected meteorologist and science reporter, and has always dreamed of going to space and becoming an astronaut. She enrolled in the Project PoSSUM Scientist-Astronaut program at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, where she underwent training. She applied to numerous programs in the hopes of being selected for a space mission, and while in the scientist astronaut program, she also applied to Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission. She pursued her dreams not only for herself, but also as a way to inspire girls and women worldwide.
Flight with Blue Origin
She formed part of Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission, a suborbital flight completed as part of the New Shepard program. This mission aims to make the space experience accessible to civilians. It marked another milestone in commercial space exploration by allowing a diverse group of passengers to experience weightlessness and observe Earth from the edge of space. This capsule launched on August 3, 2025, at around 8:30 a.m. and returned to Earth about 10 minutes later.
Deborah took a student-designed gravity indicator into space, hoping to inspire young people to pursue education and careers in STEM fields. She became the first certified meteorologist to travel to space on a commercial suborbital flight.
Experience Meeting Deborah Martorell
Meeting Deborah Martorell, an accomplished woman, meteorologist, and now astronaut, was an amazing opportunity. I someday hope to study and perhaps visit space; therefore, meeting a woman who had already gone to space was truly inspiring. During the presentation, she discussed her journey to where she is today, highlighting the many hardships and challenges she overcame to achieve her goals. When asked for advice, she emphasized the importance of being persistent, determined, and never taking "no" for an answer.
Additionally, her story was an example that you do not have to define yourself by one thing in life. Deborah went from studying journalism and communication in college to traveling to space, two seemingly unrelated journeys. Her nonlinear path showed us students that it is never too late to reach our goals, and that we should never limit our dreams and abilities. Apart from her insightful stories and advice, it was inspiring to see her openness and receptiveness towards the students, as she answered all questions kindly and honestly, and made sure to encourage us to pursue our passions and explore STEM fields. Her advocacy for children was made even clearer when she showed us the student project she took with her to space. This also reminded students that you are never too young to achieve your dreams. Overall, this was an amazing experience, and I’m grateful to have met an inspiring role model who reminds me, as well as many other students, that my dreams are achievable.
I want to thank my school and my teacher for selecting me to attend this event.