How many times would you apply to a program that kept turning you down, before giving up? Elio Morillo was turned down 11 times by NASA. On his 12th try, he was finally accepted. Son of a mother and father with differing perspectives of life in Ecuador, his mother took Elio and fled to the U.S. when the political and economic situation in Ecuador worsened and the toxic relationship between his parents became unbearable for his mother. In New York, his mother worked 3 jobs. Luckily, some family and grandparents were around to assist the family which Elio has never forgotten. Elio’s work with NASA JPL, on Perseverance and it’s landing on the surface of Mars, was a highlight of his career but was also a powerful moment of realization. The world could now see the diverse group of people who created the moment and that if they had not all come together, this would not have happened. A touching life story which you will want to find out how it all ends.