{"product_id":"the-boy-who-reached-for-the-stars-a-memoir-9780063214323","title":"The Boy Who Reached for the Stars: A Memoir","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Inspiring and joyous.\"--\u003cem\u003ePeople\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Heartwarming . . . infectious . . . Morillo's \u003cem\u003eThe Boy Who Reached for the Stars \u003c\/em\u003eis every bit the inspiration he means it to be.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e--\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe engineer known as the \"space mechanic\" speaks to both our future and past in this breathless memoir of his journey from Ecuador to NASA and beyond.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElio Morillo's life is abruptly spun out of orbit when economic collapse and personal circumstances compel his mother to flee Ecuador for the United States in search of a better future for her son. His itinerant childhood sets into motion a migration that will ultimately carry Elio to the farthest expanse of human endeavor: space.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOvercoming a history of systemic adversity and inequality in public education, Elio forged ahead on a journey as indebted to his galactic dreams as to a loving mother whose sacrifices safeguarded the ground beneath his feet. Today, Elio is helping drive human expansion into the solar system and promote the future of human innovation--from AI and robotics to space infrastructure and equitable access.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Boy Who Reached the Stars \u003c\/em\u003eis both a cosmic and intimate memoir spun from a constellation of memories, reflections, and intrepid curiosity, as thoroughly luminous as the stars above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMorillo, Elio:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElio Morillo\u003c\/strong\u003e is a space systems engineer at Blue Origin. Previously he worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Mars 2020 mission, where he was a system testbed and operations engineer for the \u003cem\u003ePerseverance\u003c\/em\u003e rover and \u003cem\u003eIngenuity, \u003c\/em\u003e the Mars helicopter. Born in Ecuador and raised in Puerto Rico and New York, Elio graduated from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in electrical engineering as well as a master's in systems engineering and design. In his free time, he enjoys giving talks on space, volunteering, and mentoring. Elio is passionate about exploration, expansion, and equitable access to space.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperOne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51414702031122,"sku":"9780063214323","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_874683a7-304b-4ade-be20-679543e5b06d.jpg?v=1751126415","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-boy-who-reached-for-the-stars-a-memoir-9780063214323","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}