A Million Miles Away

In the late 1960s and 70s, a boy named José grows up in the shadow of the migrant farming life, with a family leaving Michoacán to pick grapes in California in search of a better future. As the harvest seasons stretch on, José attends school when the season permits and works alongside his family in the fields, balancing learning with labor. His teacher, Ms. Young, spots a remarkable spark in him and makes a personal visit to his home to voice concerns about how the constant moving might disrupt his studies. When José’s father finally faces the reality that partial wages aren’t enough to secure stability, the family decides to settle in California full time, a turning point that will shape José’s path for years to come.

Years later, José completes his studies at the University of the Pacific and begins a career as an engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. To fit in with peers and projects, he swaps his customized 1963 Chevrolet Impala for a more modest used Mazda RX-7, a small change that mirrors the bigger transition in his life. He meets Adela, and after a cautious initial encounter with her family, their relationship deepens into a partnership. They marry and raise five children, with José continuing to advance professionally at the lab, eventually taking on a mentorship role for researchers who once overlooked him.

A pivotal moment arrives when José’s supervisor offers a chance to join a team headed to Russia to assess a shipment of enriched uranium that the United States plans to buy for NASA. After enduring several rejections, he delivers his 12th application in person to Frederick Sturckow, a trainer connected to the space program, and his persistence pays off as he earns a spot in the program. The journey is demanding; José struggles to keep pace with his classmates and faces a personal setback when he learns of the death of Beto, a cousin and close friend, which tests his focus. A conversation with Kalpana Chawla—who explains why space exploration matters and reveals she has been chosen as the Mission Specialist for STS-107 on Space Shuttle Columbia—helps renew his sense of purpose and resolve.

As José watches the reflection of the Columbia on the television screen with his family, the news of the shuttle’s disintegration during re-entry is shocking, yet he presses on and begins to excel among his fellow trainees. In 2008, Sturckow invites him to join STS-128 as a Mission Specialist. He shares the exciting news with Adela, who celebrates with their family, while a surprise visit from his former teacher Ms. Young reinforces the years of belief she had in his potential. The moment of launch finally arrives, and José boards the shuttle with his crew, preparing for the journey into orbit.

During the mission, a quiet image lingers in José’s mind: the monarch butterfly that landed on his father’s arm on the day the family decided to stay in California, a symbol that hints at the destiny he has chosen. The narrative notes that Mission STS-128 remains aboard the International Space Station for 13 days, during which José enjoys tacos and listens to José Alfredo Jiménez’s “El Hijo del Pueblo,” a small touch of home while he explores the unknown. By the end, José is celebrated as the first migrant farmworker in space, a remarkable achievement that ties his vocation to his roots. He continues to live a life that honors both his heritage and his accomplishments, still helping his family in his own way—now with a vineyard in California, Tierra Luna Cellars in Lodi, where he keeps a connection to the land that started his extraordinary journey.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:07