Ellen Ochoa

Ellen Ochoa (born May 8, 1958) is an American astronaut, engineer, and director who broke significant barriers in space exploration and aerospace leadership. Born in Los Angeles, Ochoa earned a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University and initially worked at NASA's Ames Research Center as a research scientist. She was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1990 and achieved historic significance in 1993 when she flew on Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-56, becoming the first Latina astronaut to go to space. Over her astronaut career, Ochoa completed four space shuttle missions, spending more than 1,000 hours in space and conducting numerous experiments in life sciences and materials research. She also served as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator on the Atlantis. Beyond her spaceflight achievements, Ochoa made significant contributions to optical inspection technology and robotics. In 2013, she became the first Latina director of the Johnson Space Center, NASA's mission control headquarters, leading human spaceflight operations. Ochoa continues to inspire young people, particularly women and Hispanics, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.