Ellen Ochoa

Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman in space in 1993. In addition, she served as the first Hispanic and only the second woman to serve as Director of the Johnson Space Center.

Education

Ellen Ochoa participated in four space shuttle flights, logging almost 1,000 hours in space. Ellen attended Grossmont High School in La Mesa, California.  Next, she majored in physics at San Diego State University.  In 1985, she received a doctorate degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University.  After completing post graduate study, Dr. Ochoa joined Sandia National Laboratories and the NASA Ames Research Center. Her research focused on optical systems for information processing.  She holds three patents in the optical recognition and inspection field.

The Astronaut

Ellen applied for the NASA astronaut training program in 1985. Turned down, she earned a pilot license. She felt this would enhance her selection chances. Applying a second time in 1987, she was once again rejected.  Finally, in 1990, her third application proved successful. 

Dr. Ochoa began space flight training in 1991. She served as a mission specialist on STS-56 in 1993 and payload commander on STS-66 in 1994.  Her next two positions were mission specialist and flight engineer on STS-96 in 1999. The STS-110 mission in 2002 became her last.

After completing 950 hours in space, Dr. Ochoa served in a number of important NASA capacities of increasing responsibility.  These included Assistant for the Space Station in the Astronaut Office, and lead spacecraft communicator in Mission Control.  Following an appointment as Acting Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, she took on the highest position NASA offered.  In 2012, she occupied the office of Director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Awards

Besides her significant positions, Dr. Ochoa received many prestigious awards.  NASA awarded her the highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal.  In addition. she received their Exceptional Service Medal and Outstanding Leadership Medal as well as four Space Flight Medals   Six schools are named in her honor in several states across the nation.  Clearly, Ellen Ochoa deserved her selection as a member of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.