Rodolfo Neri Vela

Rodolfo Neri Vela (1952-), Mexican astronaut. Neri Vela was the first Mexican citizen in space.

Neri Vela was born in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico. He earned a B.S. degree in mechanical and electrical engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City in 1975 and received a Ph.D. degree in electromagnetic radiation at the University of Birmingham, England in 1979. Neri Vela joined the Radio Communications Group at the Institute of Electrical Research in Mexico City in 1980, where he specialized in satellite communication systems. He became the head of the Department of Planning and Engineering for the Morelos satellite at the Ministry of Communications and Transport, then moved on to become a lecturer and researcher at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

Neri Vela was a postgraduate lecturer and researcher when selected to accompany the Morelos B satellite on its deployment mission aboard a space shuttle of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He flew aboard the space shuttle Atlantis from November 26 to December 3, 1985, observing the deployment of Morelos B from Atlantis’s cargo bay. During the flight he also conducted other scientific experiments and served as subject for medical tests related to the body’s adaptation to space conditions.

After the mission, Neri Vela resumed lecturing and research at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.