MSU geosciences alumna blasts into history, brings weather expertise to space
STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University alumna Deborah Martorell is set to launch into history as the first broadcast meteorologist to travel into space with Blue Origin––a commercial spaceflight company focused on developing reusable rocket technology––continuing MSU’s legacy of shaping leaders in weather-related sciences.
Martorell, a 2007 American Meteorological Society-certified meteorologist who studied in MSU’s broadcast meteorology program, has been selected as one of six private citizens for a suborbital mission aboard Blue Origin’s ‘New Shepard’ spacecraft scheduled for late summer 2025. The flight will carry experiments designed by Puerto Rican students, aiming to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.
Martorell currently is the chief meteorologist at TeleOnce (WLII) in Puerto Rico.
The mission will cross the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space—100 kilometers above sea level––and return to Earth.
A San Juan native, Martorell has spent more than 30 years reporting weather and science across Puerto Rico. Her career includes 27 years as Senior Meteorologist at WAPA-TV before joining TeleOnce and the Uno Radio Group, another company for whom she serves as Chief Meteorologist.
By invitation only, Blue Origin sought Martorell’s expertise to add to the collective knowledge aboard the mission.
“I’m incredibly proud that they saw in me a communicator whose journey could resonate far and wide. Ultimately, commercial space exploration is opening the door for everyone—not just astronauts or engineers, but educators, artists and everyday people who carry the stories and hopes of their communities. It’s a profound shift that says space isn’t reserved for the few—it belongs to all of us,” Martorell said.
Her accolades include eight Emmy Awards and the prestigious Silver Circle Emmy for more than 25 years of broadcast excellence. She has twice been honored by the American Meteorological Society for excellence in science reporting, most recently in 2025.
Martorell said MSU was more than an academic institution, but rather a “launching pad” for her dreams.
“MSU’s meteorology program equipped me with rigorous scientific training, but just as importantly, it deepened my understanding of what it means to communicate that science with precision and empathy. I gained critical knowledge in atmospheric sciences, forecasting techniques, and the use of cutting-edge meteorological tools, while also honing my ability to translate complex concepts into clear, meaningful messages for the public. Balancing my studies with a full-time broadcasting career and motherhood demanded discipline, resilience, and focus—and MSU met me where I was. Their support allowed me to grow not only as a scientist, but as a professional communicator and leader,” Martorell said.
Martorell’s passion for space and science communication extends beyond the studio. She is a graduate of the Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) Scientist-Astronaut Program, where she trained in cloud tomography and microgravity flight operations. Developed in 2012 and headquartered in Florida, the PoSSUM program equips participants with advanced skills for suborbital science missions—often serving as a pipeline for professionals aiming to contribute to real-world space science.
Her news coverage has included hurricanes, NASA’s Artemis mission preparations, microgravity flights, and interviews with Puerto Rican astronauts Joe Acabá and Marcos Berríos.
MSU’s Department of Geosciences, home to the university’s nationally recognized meteorology program, trains approximately one in three on-air meteorologists in the U.S., underscoring its role as a premier training ground for weather professionals.
For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Geosciences, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.geosciences.msstate.edu.