DENVER (CBS4) — When humanity first touched down on Mars, it had the spirit of a Colorado hero with it. The Perseverance rover carried the name of Kendrick Castillo, who was killed while trying to stop a shooter at STEM School Highlands Ranch in May 2019.
Kendrick Castillo (credit: LinkedIn)
Castillo was a science and robotics fanatic — and this mission is a huge step toward sending humans to Mars.
READ MORE: Kendrick Castillo Could Be Featured In National Garden Of American HeroesHis father, John Castillo, thanked NASA and called it a “wonderful day.”
“We will know that Kendrick’s name is somewhere on the Rover getting ready to discover the red planet,” John Castillo wrote on Facebook.
READ MORE: Artists Unveil Kendrick Castillo Mural In DenverMORE NEWS: 'We Will Never Find Peace': STEM School Shooting Victim Kendrick Castillo's Father At Gunman's SentencingA preview of what’s to come in just a couple of hours. Once I get this part behind me, I’ll finally be able to get to work. Can’t wait. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/KDrOzNFats
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
The rocket that got Perseverance to Mars was built by United Launch Alliance in Centennial, and the heat shield deisgned to protect her on the descent through the Martian atmosphere was built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton.
