Location | Mission Briefing Center
From September 15 through October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized in the United States. Space Center Houston is celebrating the historical and cultural contributions of Hispanic innovators to the U.S. spaceflight program with a month-long speaker series! Hear from these innovative aerospace-industry professionals as their work charts the future of human spaceflight. These presentations are included with general admission.
Cade Alaniz
2026 Astronaut Scholar
Texas A&M University
Cade Alaniz is a 4th year undergraduate at Texas A&M University pursuing chemistry and materials science. His work sits at the crossroads of solid-state chemistry and electrochemistry, where he develops materials for next-generation energy storage. He believes that science works best when it works for everyone—a philosophy that guides his commitment to fostering scientific engagement and enables the open exchange of ideas.
Cade is a 2026 Astronaut Scholar and a recipient of the 2025 American Chemical Society and 2024 Louis-Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholarships. He has pursued internships at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Colorado School of Mines where he has consistently worked to develop batteries, solar technologies, and solid-state lasers. Beyond the laboratory, he currently serves as President of the Texas A&M SACNAS chapter where he has organized professional development and outreach opportunities for the greater community. He aims to pursue a Masters in Physics at Cambridge to study the fundamental structure-property relationships governing battery materials to help meet global energy demand and power the future.
