Ellen Ochoa

The first Hispanic woman to travel to space and a pioneering advocate for STEM education.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa (born 1958) shattered barriers as the first Hispanic woman astronaut, logging nearly 1,000 hours in space across four NASA missions. Born in Los Angeles, she earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University, where she co-invented optical systems for space exploration.

Selected by NASA in 1990, Ochoa’s first mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (1993) involved studying the ozone layer. Later, as director of the Johnson Space Center (2013–2018), she oversaw critical programs like the International Space Station and Orion spacecraft.

Ochoa has tirelessly promoted STEM education, particularly for girls and minorities. She serves on the National Science Board and has been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Her story is featured in children’s books like 'The Astronaut With a Song for the Stars', inspiring future generations to reach for the stars.