Jacob Torres is a NASA engineer and plant scientist known for his groundbreaking work on growing New Mexico chile peppers in space. A native of the state, Torres played a key role in NASA’s Plant Habitat-04 experiment, which successfully cultivated Hatch green chile aboard the International Space Station. His work in space agriculture helps pave the way for future deep-space missions by exploring sustainable food production beyond Earth.

Passionate about education and STEM outreach, Torres actively engages with students and educators across New Mexico, sharing insights on space farming, engineering, and the future of human space exploration. His inspiring journey—from a small-town upbringing to working with NASA—motivates students to pursue careers in science, technology, and innovation.

CREATE A DONORS CHOOSE CLASSROOM TO GET SUPPLIES TO JOIN THE SPACE CHILE CHALLANGE TODAY:

🌟 Donors Choose Guide for New Mexico Science Teachers

Jacob Torres – "Chile in Space" New Mexico Scientist

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CONNECT WITH JACOB TORRES

Bring your classroom dreams to life with community support.

What is DonorsChoose?

DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit platform where public school teachers can request funding for classroom resources, science kits, field trips, and technology. Donors from around the country—individuals and companies—can support your project.

EXAMPLES

"HELP OUR CLASS JOIN THE NEW MEXICO MOON CHILE CHALLANGE"

“Cultivating Curiosity: Our Classroom’s Chile Journey to the Stars”

“From Our Roots to the Rocket: New Mexico Chile Goes Galactic”

READY TO TAKE TAKE YOUR YOUR PROJECT TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

USE THE RESOURCE GUIDE BELOW TO CREATE A DONORS CHOOSE CLASSROOM PROJECT TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF YOUR PROJECT AND LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR OTHER STEM PROJECTS