Marcos Pontes, the first Brazilian astronaut, has built a career that reflects a lifelong commitment to space exploration, education, and advocacy.

Marcos Pontes grew up in Bauru, São Paulo, with dreams of becoming a pilot. His dedication led him to the Brazil Air Force Academy, where he earned a degree in Aeronautical Technology in 1984 and later, a master’s in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Selected by NASA in 1998, Pontes launched aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft in 2006, spending ten days on the International Space Station as part of Expedition 13. He retired from the Brazilian Air Force in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel, continuing to contribute to the Brazilian Space Program.

Currently, Pontes is the president of the Astronaut Marcos Pontes Foundation, CEO of MP Engineering, and holds several ambassadorial roles. He is also the Space Research Director of the National Institute for Aeronautical and Space Development and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Organization. An accomplished author, Pontes has written four books, including his autobiography, “Mission Accomplished: The Complete History of the First Brazilian Space Mission.”