Candy M. Torres

Candy M. Torres is the Creativity Engineer at Technorican and a long-time aerospace professional. Because her goals were ahead of her time, she created her own college major using the only three space-related courses available: Geology of the Moon and Planets, Astronomy, and a short Astrophysics course. She filled the remainder of her four-year degree with science and math classes. This proved to be a wise choice, as her Astronomy professor later referred her for her first job.

Her career launched in 1976 at Princeton University, where she supported NASA's Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-3 (Copernicus) satellite program—a vital precursor to the Hubble Space Telescope. Candy developed computer skills that improved her production of quarterly NASA reports on Copernicus. When mid-sized computers became available, she stepped into the role of System Manager despite having no prior background in the field. She researched the technology, sought technical advice, and organized a team to network the entire Astrophysics Department.

The Princeton environment allowed Candy’s space activism to flourish. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Princeton was a hub of excitement regarding NASA’s support for Dr. Gerard K. O’Neill’s space colony concepts. She volunteered for and attended demonstrations of lunar manufacturing ideas that are now being seriously considered for Moon settlements. She also produced several episodes for a local cable television show about the Space Shuttle using NASA videotapes and the help of Princeton students.

After Copernicus was shut down following nearly ten years of research, Candy moved to Houston to support the NASA Johnson Space Center. She joined the team responsible for computerizing tasks for Space Shuttle flight controllers. She worked alongside controllers to learn their processes and trained them on software for Space Shuttle failure and configuration analyses.

Candy took time off to earn her first Master’s degree in Studies of the Future, which included: Strategic Planning and Systems Analysis, Sociology, Research Methods, and Ergonomics. Following her studies, she managed an Human Factors operational database for future long-term space habitation based on lessons from past missions. When the International Space Station became operational, Candy supported Operations Planning and became a flight controller — possibly the first Puerto Rican woman to do so.

Beyond engineering, Candy is a dedicated STEM advocate and informal educator. She works to expand aerospace access for women and underrepresented communities. As a licensed private and drone pilot, she shares her credentials to inspire excitement in people of all ages regarding future possibilities.

Candy has also self-published two books:

• “Born on the Moon – Living in the Space Age”: A scrapbook format of her life’s path.
• “Cosmic Eyes – Space Telescope Ancestors”: A history of the two space observatories that made the Hubble Space Telescopes possible.

Currently, Candy is writing a documentary screenplay about her legacy in space exploration. Her story highlights the struggles and obstacles she overcame, serving as an inspirational account of one woman’s "impossible" dream.