Written by Justun Dorsey, Education and Outreach Coordinator

Last month, a new Pixar movie titled Elio was released in theaters. The story is about a young boy named Elio Solis, who is sent to live with his Aunt Olga after his parents pass away. Elio struggles to fit in and often feels as though he is a burden to the world around him. Upon discovering a new exhibit about Voyager 1 at a local Air and Space Museum, he becomes fascinated by the idea of visiting another planet where he feels he may belong. His dream comes true when he makes contact with the Communiverse, an intergalactic hub occupied by various alien ambassadors. Throughout the movie, he develops a friendship with Glordon who helps him discover that he is worthy of companionship, and ultimately, love when he is reunited with his aunt.

Another interesting aspect of the story that relates to NVMM is that Elio’s aunt is a Major in the United States Air Force (USAF) where she is responsible for managing a classified military project that decodes alien signals. Her dream is to join the space program and one day become an astronaut. Just like the fictional Maj. Solis, the real-life Lt. Gen. Susan Jane Helms served in the USAF and not only shared the same dream, but made it happen!

Early Life and Military Career

Helms’ path began with a passion for flight and service. She was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but considers Portland, Oregon, to be her hometown. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1980, she was stationed at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida as an F-16 weapons engineer with the Air Force Armament Laboratory. Two years later, she became the lead engineer for F-15 weapons separation. She earned her Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1985 from Stanford University. Then, in 1987, she was selected for the astronaut program while stationed at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada. Throughout her career, she carved her place in a male-dominated field during a time when women were still fighting for equal opportunities in military aviation. Her technical expertise and leadership skills earned her respect and paved the way for her selection as a NASA astronaut in 1990.

Journey to Space

Officially beginning her astronaut training in 1991, Susan Helms made history on January 13, 1993, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-54) as the first U.S. military woman in space. Over the next decade, she flew on four more space missions, logging more than 5,000 hours (approximately 211 days) in orbit. In 2001, she participated in the STS-102 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where she performed a record-setting spacewalk lasting eight hours and 56 minutes. Her work on the ISS involved crucial assembly tasks and scientific experiments that contributed to the station’s ongoing success.

Legacy and Leadership

In 2002, she returned to work with the USAF and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 2011. In this role, she commanded the 14th Air Force, known as the Air Force Space Command, and led the Joint Functional Component for Space. Also in 2011, she was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Helms retired from the service in 2014 and continues to use her voice to advocate for female leadership in American business and government.

Elio is a heartwarming story about finding one’s place in a vast, often confusing universe, embracing the power of connection. Elio and Maj. Solis’ journey of self-discovery and determination mirrors that of Lt. Gen. Helms’ career. Their stories remind us that dreams require perseverance, courage, and the willingness to venture into uncharted territory. They inspire us to reach beyond our limits, embrace our unique paths, and remember that sometimes, the greatest adventures begin when we dare to be ourselves.

References:

(First) Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.
(Second) Photo courtesy of Pixar.
(Third) Photo courtesy of NASA. (Description: Astronaut Susan J. Helms, Expedition Two flight engineer, views the topography of a point on Earth from the nadir window in the U.S. Laboratory / Destiny module of the International Space Station (ISS)).

Elio. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, Pixar, 2025.
“Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms.” Air Force, www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107959/susan-j-helms/.
“Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms.” NASA, NASA, 17 Dec. 2024, www.nasa.gov/people/lieutenant-general-susan-j-helms/. 
“Susan J. Helms.” New Mexico Museum of Space History, 8 Mar. 2023, nmspacemuseum.org/inductee/susan-j-helms/. 
“USAF Women in Space.” National Museum of the USAF, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/2383476/women-in-the-air-force-displays-in-space-gallery/.