Aleida Rosales

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Aleida Rosales

Personal Information

Gender

Female

Date of birth

1961 (age 42) ^[2]

Place of birth

Parras de la Fuente, Mexico

Family

Victor Diaz (husband)
Javier (son)
Graciana (daughter)
Octavio Rosales (father)
Graciana Rosales † (mother)

Nationality

Mexico

United States

Professional Information

Occupation

Flight controller
Flight director^[1] (former)
Engineer

Affiliations

Helios Aerospace
NASA (formerly)

Series Information

Actresses

Coral Peña (S2+)
Olivia Trujillo (S1)

Seasons

One, Two, Three, Four

Episodes

33

First seen	Last seen
1x01

In 1620, a ship called the Mayflower traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a new world. Some came to escape their past, others to follow their dreams. They faced many hardships and turmoil. But together, and with the memory of those they left behind, they were able to overcome. What was once a group of strangers, voyagers seeking a better life, had become something different, something more. And in the unlikeliest of places, they found a new home.
Aledia Rosales, in Season 3, Episode 10, "Stranger in a Strange Land"

Aleida Rosales is the daughter of Octavio and Graciana Rosales. She was born and raised in Parras de la Fuente, Mexico. In 1969, after her mother passed away, she and her father illegally crossed the border to live a new life in the United States.^[3]

In the U.S., Aleida grew interest in NASA and engineering. Due to her father working as a janitor at the Johnson Space Center, she was introduced to Margo Madison, who served as her mentor.^[4] Almost 10 years later, Aleida eventually achieved her dream and joined NASA as a systems engineer.^[5] At some point Aleida married Victor Diaz, and they got a son named Javi. Her father could return to the U.S. to live with them. By 1994, Aleida became a lead engineer and Flight Director for NASA.^[6]

Following the experiences from the Bombing of Johnson Space Center, Aleida developed trauma, which reignited after the Kronos capturing mission failure. As a result, Aleida took time off from work for months before resigning.

History[]

Season 1[]

On June 26, 1969, while in Parras de la Fuente (Mexico), her mother Graciana calls her to watch as Alexei Leonov sets foot on the Moon as the first human, and this event will shape Aleida's future. 4 days later, her mother passed away from her illness. A few weeks later, her father Octavio moved illegally to the United States, bringing Aleida with him. They crossed the border on July 20, just while Apollo 11 was landing.^[3]

FAM 102 17 — Octavio talks to Aleida after she was playing with matches again.

Octavio is now working at NASA as a janitor. He leaves the building and goes home, where he greets the rest of his family. He asks for Aleida, and is told by Cata that a girl had almost burned her hand thanks to his daughter. She tells him to control his daughter or to find someplace else to live. He finds Aleida outside and tells her to not play with matches. When Aleida speaks in Spanish, he tells her to speak English, but she refuses. Octavio asks her to talk to him and offers his support, but she asks to be left alone.^[7]

At home, Aleida burnt a newspaper of Wernher von Braun after it became known he was a Nazi, which caught fire along with a doll, which she threw to a blanket which also rapidly caught flames. Her father walked in and put the fire out, and asked her why she did that. She argued that she could have put it out, and that it was fine, but Octavio mentioned it was not and asked her why she was obsessed with fire, to which she responded that she wanted to be in the fire. Octavio hugged her and told her he wanted to show her something, taking her to a model rocket at NASA.^[7]

One year later, on October 27, 1970, Octavio Rosales cleaned up after the press conference where the first female astronauts were officially announced. He found Deke Slayton's press notes and saved the paper. At home, Aleida was watching the announcement on TV. Octavio gave her the paper he had picked up and she hung it up on the wall above her bed and smiled.^[8]

FAM 104 58 — Aleida is watching the launch of Apollo 15.

Another year later, on October 18, 1971, the launch day of Apollo 15, Octavio handed Aleida a bus ticket, telling her to get off at Cape Kennedy where she would be following everybody else, since they were all going to the same place. After the launch, she would go back to the bus station and use the second ticket in order to get back to Houston. Octavio apologized for not having enough money for two tickets, but Aleida assured him she would be fine. They hugged, and she got on the bus. When she arrived at the Cape, she made her way through the crowd and watched the takeoff of Apollo 15, taking Americas first female astronaut, Molly Cobb, to the Moon.^[8]

Another 3 years passed. In fall 1974, Aleida was doing homework in the visitors room of Mission Control at JSC. Margo Madison noticed her and asked her how she got in here, and Aleida explained to her, that her father let her in, who was working as a janitor here. Margo attention was caught by the calculations Aleida was doing and told her that she hated logarithms. Some days later, Aleida is again studying at JSC. Margo comes by and gives her a slide rule, telling her that she should come in her office in 20 minutes and she would explain her how to use it.^[9]

FAM 108 36 — Margo gives Aleida a letter from Kennedy School.

A couple of weeks later, Aleida was holding hands with Anthony while doing homework together at home, but they let go when Octavio approached them. Aleida and Margo had started to meet regularly in her office. One day, Aleida arrived too late for the second time and apologized, but she had needed to run all the way to JSC after missing the bus. Margo asked Aleida about her necklace and her hickey. She told Aleida that she was looking forward to changing her life, but was not sure anymore since she lied to her. She gave Aleida a letter from the Kennedy Math and Science Program, which she opened and found out she had been accepted for two advanced tracks. Margo told Aleida that this meant she would transfer to Kennedy school right after the first of the year, which was sooner than she expected and she had to leave all her friends, but Margo got angry since she was losing focus and she needed to work ten times harder than the boys. Aleida got home and got ready for dinner. She looked at her letter once again, but was excited when Anthony called.^[10]

FAM 109 10 — Aleida argued with her father when he found her acceptance letter for the Kennedy program.

Aleida walks in her room and finds her father with the Kennedy school papers. Octavio asks her why she did not tell him and she mentions that she was not sure that she wanted to go. However, her father found that ridiculous after all they had sacrificed and saw her as throwing it all away, realizing that it was probably because of the boy she was seeing, but she argued that she only wanted to stay with her friends. Octavio asked Aleida if she believed Margo had gotten to where she was by chasing boys, but she told him that they were not in Mexico anymore and people liked to have fun sometimes and that he would not know how things work in America, so he grounded her.^[11]

Some time later, Octavio was interrogated by FBI agent Gavin Donahue who suspected him of Soviet espionage and arrested him.^[11] The next day, he called Aleida and told her that they would send him back to Mexico. He told her everything would be okay and that he talked to Cata and she could stay with her. She asked when he would be back, but he said they would send him to prison if the would catch him again.^[12]

FAM 110 22 — Margo comforted Aleida when her father was deported.

Aleida was waiting for Margo at her office. Margo told the young girl that she had heard about her father and Aleida told her what had happened. Margo sat down next to her and told her it would be okay since Octavio was smart. Aleida told her how everything was going and told her that she did not want to live with the woman, but Margo told her that it would only be temporary. Aleida asked her if she could stay with her and would not be a bother. Margo told her that they could still do their sessions, but living with her was a lot to ask at the moment.^[12]

Aleida went home, but stumbled upon a notice of seizure. Walking in the home she found it empty and trashed with even most of her photos removed. The phone was ringing and she talked to her father. She told him what had happened and he told her to grab as many things as she could and run. She told him that she would not go back to Mexico and said, that Margo had told her she could live with her. Her dad was very happy and said her that those were great news. When she hears police coming she runs out of the apartment after grabbing some clothes and her acceptance letter.^[12]

Season 2[]

FAM 205 21 — Aleida was welcomed to NASA by her team and introduced to her mission.

In 1983, Aleida is living in a trailer, together with her boyfriend Davey Kowalski. After Aleida got fired from her last jobs as many times before, Davey secretly contacted Margo Madison and told her that Aleida was going to be deported if she would not find another job soon.^[13] After his call, Margo visited her in her trailer and offered her a job at NASA, which was a humiliating experience for Aleida. Although she finally decided to accept Margo's offering, she didn't trust Davey anymore and broke up with him.^[14]

Aleida walks into NASA and looks around, going into Mission Control, where she always used to sit as a kid. She starts jumping up and down in excitement and looks at her employee card feeling happy. She makes it into the big room, and greets a colleague, Bill Strausser, who she tells she does not have a story. He mentiones that that she seems not to be much of a talker, but welcomed her to the current Apollo-Soyuz mission anyway. Later, Aleida ist introduced to her co-workers by team leader Tim McKiernan.^[15]

Bill Strausser tells the team that they needed to design a new docking system from scratch. Aleida complains that they have no Soyuz structural interface data, but Bill ignores her and tells the team that he wanted new proposals in the morning. Aleida asks him why he had ignored her, and he tells her that the problem she had asked about did not even correspond to her team, also adding that she should stay in her lane.^[16]

FAM 206 45 — Margo, Aleida, and Sergei worked together to make Apollo-Soyuz happen.

Margo and Sergei Nikulov make it to NASA, discussing plans, only to find Aleida in the room. Margo was surprised, but introduced both of them. Margo asked what she was doing there, and Aleida mentioned that the universal docking system and needed some inspiration, so she figured it would be best to go to the source, which Sergei agreed with. Margo asked her if that was under her purview, but Aleida admitted that it was not. Sergei mentioned that engineers who liked to get their hands dirty were the best, and told Margo to keep her. Aleida thanked him, but Margo mentioned he was drunk. Margo showed the drawings, which Aleida described as beautiful; Margo agreed, but Aleida told her that it would not work since there was nothing to disperse the energy of contact and the hull could be ruptured if they were hit hard, which Margo agreed with. Aleida told them that they could place a ring and the three got to work. The next day, Margo and Aleida presented the docking system to the NASA administration and the Apollo-Soyuz teams. Sergei talked to the Soviets and they agreed that it would work for them.^[16]

Margo hears Aleida struggling with the vending machine. She tells her to try negative pressure, which in the end works for her. She asks Aleida if she wanted something to wash her food down with since they had finally been able to reach their astronauts in Star City. Aleida thinks it is good and follows Margo.

FAM 207 37 — Margo and Aleida shared a drink.

In Margo's office, she pours them some brandy. She teaches Aleida how to hold the glass and the latter mentions it is strong, and points out that she never thought she had seen Margo that happy. Margo admits she is happy and adds that she can still be surprised by humanity at times. However, Aleida tells her to say that to Bill Strausser since he was the biggest jerk of all time. Margo tells her that he was harmless, but lacked social skills, calling him complicated but a good engineer and committed to his work. She tells her about an incident in which he had been at his console for 23 hours and refused to leave it, even urinating there which earned him the nickname "Peanut". Margo tells her that if she could find a way to get along with Bill since even she did it, also reminding her that she would face many difficult people in her career.^[17]

FAM 208 21 — Aleida disrespected Bill when he would not listen to her.

Aleida talks to Bill, telling him that different teams should talk before having their preliminary designs, but he tells her that it was standard procedure. She tells him that as an engineer, what she was looking at was a bad design, but he mentions that the bad design was the one they had gone to the Moon with when she was wearing diapers. She tells him that maybe he should have worn diapers during Gemini^W and he tells her to get out, which she does after calling him "Peanut".^[18]

At her office, Margo tells Aleida that Bill had quit and she was the cause of it. Margo reads aloud from Bill's resignation letter that, after talking with Aleida, he felt he did not have the respect of his colleagues. She asks what she had said to him and Aleida admits to calling him "Peanut", which shocks Margo. She tells Aleida that Bill had worked at NASA for over 20 years and did not deserve to leave over something like that, adding that if Aleida did not convince him to come back, she would fire her. Aleida tells her that she does not owe her anything and tells her that if she wanted to fire her, she should do it. Margo realizes that when something gets rough for Aleida, she gets mad and leaves her job.^[18]

FAM 208 51 — Aleida started apologizing to Bill for having disrespected him.

Aleida storms down the hall angrily and takes a deep breath. She goes to Bill's house, but he tries to shut the door. She convinces him to let her in and is surprised at all his models. She apologizes for what she had said, but he tells her that he had been dealing with that for nearly 20 years. He asks her if she knew what Gemini mission it was and he tells her that it had been during Gemini 8^W, which she understood nearly meant the death of two astronauts. He explains why he had not left his station during this very tense and high-risk situation. He complains that people still talk about how he had peed his pants.^[18]

Aleida reveals that she had been shot at with a shotgun with rock salt and bird shot. With great emotion, she shares a story from her life. She tells Bill that during a time in her life, she did not have anyplace to live. She reveals that she had no money and would scavenge behind restaurants for food, called a wetback by one particular restaurant owner. One day when she was scavenging food, the owner came out with a gun and shot her, which made her run and stop at a park when she realized that her shirt was full of blood. She went to an emergency room, where the medical staff started to clean her wounds and they called the police. But since she was there illegally, she did not want to talk to the police, so she just left the emergency room with bird shot still in her shoulder. She reveals that she still has a lot of bird shot in her shoulder and has scars, so she does not wear tank tops or anything of the sort. She tells Bill that she has shame too and apologizes for making him feel his again. Bill is visibly moved by her story. He hands her a beer and they watch Jeopardy together.^[18]

At Mission Control, Bill and Aleida supervise Apollo 75 and are waiting for confirmation that Soyuz has launched. After the launch is confirmed, they give Danielle Poole aboard Apollo the go for launch. After they're in orbit, they again have to wait for docking confirmation, but the Soviets ar stalling.^[19]

FAM 210 38 — Bill and Aleida supervise Apollo 75

Ellen tells Margo and Molly that they could not keep this up, but Margo does not want to give up since they were on the brink of war. She asks Ellen for one more orbit, and she gives Margo 90 minutes. Molly tells Bill that they had one more orbit before they called it quits, which Aleida protests since people had worked very hard. Molly asks Bill who Aleida is and mentions she likes her when she sees her attitude.^[20]

Aleida gets a snack and hears a radio sounding. She walks into a small room and hears Gordo Stevens communicating. She reveals herself and Gordo greets her. Aleida runs to get Margo; Margo and Molly rush with her to talk with Gordo.

Bill and Aleida tell Apollo how to get back down, but Danielle Poole refuses and tells him they would proceed with the docking maneuver. Danielle tells him that she would not be going back down. When Margo tells her what her orders were, Danielle told her she was choosing to ignore her orders and told them to begin docking procedures lest they crash. Molly says that she does not care what Danielle had said since she had been given an order, which makes Margo comment that maybe it was due to it being okay that she had not followed orders many times before. Before Molly could react, Ellen tells them that it was okay for them to proceed since at least one good thing should happen on that shitty day. Aleida does not believe it, but Bill lets her talk to the astronauts, which Margo encourages. Apollo begins approaching Soyuz and they ultimately dock, Danielle shakes hands with Stepan Alexseev and everybody cheers.