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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

As we observe Hispanic Heritage Month, we take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of Hispanic individuals who have made lasting impacts in engineering, science, and space exploration. Among them are three pioneers whose achievements continue to inspire generations around the world.

o Franklin Chang-Díaz – Costa Rican-American Astronaut and Physicist
Born on April 5, 1950, in San José, Costa Rica, Dr. Franklin Chang-Díaz broke barriers in both science and space. After completing his early education in Costa Rica, he moved to the United States, where he finished high school in Connecticut. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1973, followed by a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977. Dr. Chang-Díaz became a NASA astronaut in 1981. Over his distinguished career, he completed seven spaceflights, which were missions STS 61-C, STS-34, STS-46, STS-60, STS-75, STS-91, and STS-111 before retiring in 2005. His work contributed significantly to space technology.

o Ellen Ochoa – First Hispanic Woman in Space
Ellen Ochoa, born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California, is a proud Mexican American who made history as the first Hispanic woman to go to space. A highly accomplished engineer, she earned both her master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Her journey into space began on April 8, 1993, with the STS-56 mission. Ochoa would go on to complete four spaceflights in total, which were missions STS-56, STS-66, STS-96, and STS-110. Beyond her work as an astronaut, she later became the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, becoming a role model for women and Latinas in STEM fields.

o Zoilo Hermógenes García Peña – Aviation Pioneer from the Dominican Republic
Born on December 21, 1881, in La Vega, Dominican Republic, Zoilo Hermógenes García Peña holds a foundational place in the history of Dominican aviation. After studying civil engineering and aviation at the Institut Industriel du Nord in France, he returned to his homeland and was officially recognized with the exequatur, allowing him to practice engineering in the Dominican Republic. In 1911, García Peña designed and built his first aircraft, which he named the Poliplane, meaning “multiple wings” in Spanish. He successfully flew his plane in the United States, earning recognition as the first Dominican pilot. His pioneering work led him to be remembered as the father of aviation in the Dominican Republic.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

 

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Read a New Book Month: A Time to Explore, Learn, and Connect

Read a New Book Month is celebrated each September with the goal of encouraging people to expand their knowledge through reading. This observance promotes the benefits of reading new material, especially from different genres and subjects, as a way to gain fresh insights and broaden personal perspectives.

Books offer a unique opportunity for authors to share stories, ideas, and experiences. Through this exchange, readers are able to connect with people, cultures, and viewpoints that may be very different from their own. Exploring new genres, whether fiction, history, science, or technical subjects, can deepen understanding and stimulate critical thinking.

Participating in Read a New Book Month can be simple and rewarding. Joining book clubs, becoming a member of a local library, or even starting a reading group with friends are great ways to celebrate and encourage reading within a community.

For those interested in expanding their knowledge in engineering, several noteworthy books provide a strong foundation in key areas:
• Steel Structures – Design and Behaviour by Charles G. Salmon and John E. Johnson
• Environmental Engineering by Howard S. Peavy, Donald R. Rowe, and George Tchobanoglous
• Building Construction by B.C. Punmia
• Construction Project Management by Frederick Gould and Nancy Joyce
• Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down by J.E. Gordon

Whether for professional development or personal interest, diving into a new book this September is a meaningful way to engage with the world of knowledge and ideas.

 

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Celebrating National Aviation Day

Today, August 19, 2025, is National Aviation Day, an annual observance dedicated to honoring the men and women who pioneered human flight and made significant contributions to aviation history. This day serves as a reminder of the incredible advancements in aviation and offers a chance for everyone to appreciate how far we’ve come in the field of flight.

Whether you're an aviation enthusiast or simply curious about flying, there are many meaningful ways to observe and celebrate National Aviation Day.
Here are some great ways to get involved:

1. Visit an Aviation Museum
Explore the rich history of flight by visiting an aviation museum such as the Intrepid Museum, the Cradle of Aviation Museum, or the Space Shuttle Pavilion. These institutions often feature vintage aircraft, interactive exhibits, and educational programs that highlight aviation’s evolution over time.

2. Attend an Airshow
Experience the thrill of aviation firsthand by attending an airshow in your area. Watch stunning aerial displays and aerobatic performances by skilled pilots. These events are both exciting and educational, showcasing the capabilities of modern and historic aircraft.

3. Take a Flight
Feel the excitement of being in the air by booking a scenic flight or taking a flying lesson. Many flight schools and aviation centers offer introductory flights, giving you a chance to experience what it’s like to be behind the controls or simply enjoy the view from above.

4. Volunteer with Aviation Organizations
Support the aviation community by volunteering your time and skills. Whether it’s helping at an airshow, assisting with aircraft restoration, or participating in outreach programs, your involvement can help promote and preserve the aviation industry.

5. Learn About Aviation History
Take the opportunity to dive deeper into aviation's fascinating past. Read books, watch documentaries, or join an online course to learn about the pioneers, innovations, and challenges that have shaped modern aviation.

On National Aviation Day, let’s come together to celebrate the remarkable achievements in flight and honor the legacy of the Wright brothers and other aviation pioneers. Whether you're in the air or on the ground, there's something for everyone to appreciate on this special day.

 

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Happy National Professional Engineers Day

Did you know that the first person to ever earn a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the United States was Charles Bellamy on August 8, 1907? Now, more than a century later, we celebrate Professional Engineers Day around the world.

This year, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, mark the tenth annual Professional Engineers Day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about what engineers do, what it takes to become a P.E., and how professional engineers stay current with rapidly evolving technologies.

Thanks to the visibility this celebration brings, the U.S. now has more than 900,000 licensed professional engineers, with over 25,000 engineers taking the P.E. exam each year, according to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

A P.E. license is awarded to engineers who meet specific qualifications and pass examinations administered by NCEES. To obtain a P.E. license, candidates must first pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, followed by the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Because licenses are issued by individual states, engineers can hold multiple P.E. licenses across different jurisdictions.

The P.E. exams are discipline-specific, and passing rates vary by field. While some disciplines are more challenging than others, the overall pass rate across all disciplines is approximately 65%. The most commonly taken P.E. exam is in civil engineering, which has an estimated 49% pass rate for first-time test takers, according to NCEES.

 

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Moon Landing Anniversary

Sunday, July 20th, 2025, will mark the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission, which was successfully fulfilled by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The astronauts took off on July 16th, 1969, out of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Kennedy Space Center in Florida and set foot on the moon on July 20th, 1969. To successfully achieve the Apollo 11 mission, it took hundreds of people working behind the scenes for years to fully execute this perfect mission, including NASA’s mechanical engineers crew, who also made it easier for other successful missions to take place later on. NASA’s mechanical engineers’ abilities to solve problems, design, and build were vital components that helped NASA organize, piece together, and successfully execute these missions. The mechanical engineer crew worked long hours and around the clock developing new technologies in addition to perfecting old ones. NASA’s mechanical engineers developed and worked on typical technology systems such as spacecraft, satellites, and engines. In order to be part of NASA’s mechanical engineer crew, one must have a range of knowledge and skills in disciplines such as aerospace, computers, and electronics to be able to work on various tasks and meet NASA’s strict criteria.

Since the first mission, NASA has had several successful moon landings. Aside from Apollo 11, NASA launched Apollo 12 with astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad and Alan Bean; Apollo 14 with astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Edgar D. Mitchell; Apollo 15 with astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin; Apollo 16 with astronauts Charles M. Duke and John W. Young, who was also part of the Apollo 10 orbital; and Apollo 17 with astronauts Harrison H. Schmitt and Eugene Cernan, who was also part of the Apollo 10 orbital.

NASA also had difficult missions, one happening during the third moon landing mission called Apollo 13. After launching the Apollo 13 spacecraft, the astronauts never made it to the moon because they experienced malfunction issues that caused them to lose oxygen. One of the oxygen tanks exploded and almost caused a near disaster, but luckily the astronauts were able to loop around the moon and make a safe re-entry and landing in the Earth’s atmosphere. After studying what caused the failures on the Apollo 13 mission, NASA made multiple changes to the design of the spacecraft for increased safety, which allowed Apollo 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions to be successful.

If you are interested in NASA’s missions and mechanical engineering and would like more information, please visit https://www.nasa.gov/.