Hispanic Heritage Month - Ellen Ochoa

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in physics from San Diego State University, Ellen Ochoa attended Stanford, where she would earn a Master's and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering. While at Stanford, where she was one of only a few women in her class, Ochoa and two of her professors created a new optical inspection system that earned her three patents in optics. Inspired by Sally Ride, who was the first American woman in space, Ochoa began her pursuit to becoming an astronaut, applied to NASA three times, and was finally accepted into the astronaut training program in 1990. In 1993, Ochoa became the first Latina to go into space, and ultimately served on four space missions. As an astronaut, she logged more than 1,000 hours in orbit, and received the Distinguished Service Medal – NASA’s highest award. She continued to work with NASA following her last space mission and went on to become the first Hispanic director – and only the second woman – to be named Director of the Johnson Space Center. She also went on to Chair the National Science Board. As a pioneer and trailblazer as the first Hispanic female astronaut, she has given hundreds of presentations to inspire the next generation to become involved in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.