Yari Golden-Castaño’s journey into the wonders of space began with her grandmother, Barbarita, who taught her how to read from an encyclopedia in Mexico. Nicknamed the “little astronaut” by her family, Yari embraced her passion for space at an early age, inspired by an astronaut-themed onesie her mother dressed her in. By third grade, she discovered that aspiring to be an astronaut typically required a background in teaching, medicine, or engineering.
“As a child, I felt determined to pursue my dream,” Yari recalls. “I realized I wasn’t inclined to be a doctor, and teaching wasn’t for me either. I loved building things, and math and physics came naturally, so I chose to become an engineer.”
A Dream Delayed
Despite her enthusiasm for science, Yari’s exposure to hands-on STEM experiences only began in eighth grade when she joined a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. Growing up in Southern California, where funding for STEM programs was limited, this opportunity allowed her to see classroom concepts come alive.
“Not everyone can grasp how things work just from reading textbooks. Personally, I need visuals. If I hadn’t been in that program, I wouldn’t have realized the possibilities of engaging in hands-on activities,” she states.
Yari found the GATE program challenging due to language barriers. However, by high school, she had overcome these hurdles and excelled in her Advanced Placement courses. Unfortunately, when she asked a teacher how to become an astronaut, she met skepticism. “Are you serious? A girl can’t become an engineer or astronaut,” he laughed, reflecting sentiments shared by other educators who urged her toward liberal arts instead.
“His reaction made me feel foolish,” Yari explains. “I decided to stop sharing my dream of becoming an astronaut and instead focused solely on completing my engineering degree. I never considered dropping out of engineering.”
Mission to Mars
In 2010, Yari graduated with a bachelor’s in engineering science from Smith College. She then joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory as a data analyst in a division dedicated to developing air traffic control systems. Surrounded by peers who also shared her space ambitions fueled her determination.
In 2013, when the Mars One mission was announced, aiming to establish the first human colony on the Red Planet, Yari eagerly pursued the opportunity, envisioning a one-way ticket to Mars. By 2015, she had made it onto the shortlist of 100 candidates—a mix of 50 men and 50 women—after an initial pool of 200,000 applicants. Unfortunately, the mission’s funding collapsed in 2019, leaving her dreams in limbo.
The supportive environment at the laboratory encouraged Yari to embrace her passion for space. She began sharing her dream by giving talks at schools in Boston and even in Mexico, inspiring young minds about engineering and space exploration.
“Having the Mars designation opened many doors for me. I had something worthwhile to share, and when students realized that I was just like them—a girl who kept pursuing her dreams despite doubts—I knew I needed to do something impactful,” she explains.
Previously shy, Yari had participated in educational outreach as vice president of her college’s Society of Women Engineers. But post-college, she felt compelled to engage more deeply in community outreach—and she did so through various initiatives, such as cleaning up the Charles River and volunteering at food pantries.
Poised for Blastoff
In 2017, observing that many students in outreach programs lacked engaging content, Yari launched the Girls Space Day Adventure, creating a series of hands-on demonstrations related to space and engineering in collaboration with women from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. They targeted underserved students in the Greater Boston area, providing a platform with around 60 participants rotating through the engaging activities.
Alongside this initiative, she developed an eight-week program called “Mission to Mars,” aimed at second and third graders. Each session focused on unique aspects of preparing for life on Mars, from habitat design to growing food on Martian soil, culminating in an astronaut-themed obstacle course.
R. Daniel, now her husband, supported her efforts by assisting in building educational demonstrations before he became a contractor in the laboratory’s Laser Communications Group.
To ensure their outreach was sustainable, Yari founded the Girls’ Innovation Research Laboratory (G.I.R.L.) in 2019, aimed at creating independent hands-on workshops to inspire disadvantaged students—especially young girls—to explore STEM fields.
“G.I.R.L. seeks to empower girls to innovate technologies for their communities, providing the skills, confidence, and resources to pursue careers in STEM,” Yari remarks. “It’s vital for women to feel confident leading discussions on topics they might not initially understand.”
Expanding Horizons
Since its inception, the G.I.R.L. program has hosted roughly 50 workshops, reaching over 300 students. Partnering with local schools and organizations such as Girls Inc. and Boys and Girls Clubs of America, G.I.R.L. supplies volunteers with essential resources for demonstrations.
“We have so many brilliant women at the lab, full of knowledge. Volunteers can choose topics they wish to present, allowing for a diverse menu of demonstrations,” Yari expresses. The program covers an array of fields, including robotics, AI, cybersecurity, and chemistry, making STEM accessible and engaging.
Recent workshops have focused on topics like chemical reactions, light mechanics, programming, and internet safety. In a hands-on coding session, students create circuits using a Makey Makey board, learning to program musical instruments from scratch. Another workshop explored the basics of light, teaching students to build light-emitting diode (LED) color-mixing devices.
Through G.I.R.L., Yari has been particularly driven by her goal of engaging even the most reluctant students. “I often walk into classrooms where kids are unruly, but as soon as we start a demonstration, even the most disruptive child becomes engaged, curious, and asking questions,” she shares.
To promote continuous learning, every G.I.R.L. workshop provides students with follow-up resources and materials to explore topics further. Additionally, volunteers share their stories, illustrating varied pathways to STEM careers.
“Students appreciate hearing about real journeys—the struggles and successes. Many find G.I.R.L. to be their first tangible experience with STEM, and I always emphasize that it’s never too late to start pursuing your interests,” Yari concludes.
Recognizing that some participants face language barriers, Yari, who is fluent in conversational Spanish, has made efforts to adapt instructional materials for non-English speakers, ensuring inclusivity in her workshops.
To Infinity and Beyond
As the G.I.R.L. program celebrates its fifth anniversary, it has successfully navigated many challenges, including those introduced by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to virtual workshops and pre-prepared kits sent to students.
“We found a workable system,” Yari asserts, “yet I hope to inspire a new wave of volunteers ready to pitch fresh demonstrations.”
With a wealth of research and development taking place at the laboratory, Yari has exciting topics lined up for future workshops, from smart textiles to AI-driven climate solutions. The potential is limitless.
Additionally, she envisions an app that connects volunteers to classrooms seamlessly, showcasing their backgrounds and availability, enabling teachers to find the perfect match for each lesson plan.
“G.I.R.L. has been profoundly rewarding. I am incredibly grateful for all the support from volunteers, instructors, and the Outreach Office,” Yari states. Now part of the laboratory’s Systems Engineering Group, she’s focused on developing technology that could facilitate future human missions to space.
While pursuing her dream of becoming an astronaut remains on her radar, Yari views her current work as foundational for space exploration, believing that the technology she helps create today could pave the way for tomorrow’s missions.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
