At Cornell University, two college students studying mechanical engineering are twin sisters. Ashley and Verena Padres are looking forward to a career focused on space technology innovation.

Ashley and Verena have spent their lives doing everything together, like playing basketball, taking classes, even studying for the same degree, and now making an impact on aerospace innovations.

“The world is currently working on bringing mankind to space. And so, we thought, 'why don't we try?' ” said Ashley.

From childhood drives to look at the stars to a middle school bottle rocket project, to encouragement from their engineer parents, for Ashley and Verena, it’s always been space.

“We had to write a nonfiction book report on like those little books you read as kids ... and what stood out to me was a book on female astronauts and what they've done. And I think I read through that book and I was hooked. I [said], 'I'm going to be an astronaut, that’s it, I'm sold.' And that honestly carried me through until now, that passion,” said Verena.

Their friendly rivalry growing up turned into competing with themselves.

“That's really just carried on to us pushing each other to be the best we can and to really do what we thought wasn't possible,” said Ashley.

Attending college together means they can teach each other complicated concepts.

“I understand how she thinks, she understands how I think. And being able to do that means that whenever there’s a new concept that we're learning, I get and she doesn't quite get, I can explain it to her because I understand the way her brain works, the way that she thinks logically about things,” said Verena.

At Cornell, Ashley is focusing on building autonomous aircraft for search and rescue missions. Verena is working in a lab developing light sails, which are essentially sails that would be propelled through space by light energy.

“We're trying to use light to propel things. We're using like autonomous aircraft to search for people. These things haven't been done before, but that doesn't stop us. That just empowers us to be the ones to find that new change,” said Ashley.

They both landed internships at SpaceX this summer, in their home state of California. They're encouraging young girls to work towards any goal.

“Don't be afraid to pursue what you're interested in; don’t be afraid to reach for the stars; don’t be afraid to try,” said Ashley.

“You're limited only by your imagination. There's a whole world of possibilities out there,” said Verena.

Ashley plans to jump right into the workforce, and Verena is pursuing a Ph.D.