Birthday: 10th May 1958
Who is Ellen Ochoa?
Ellen Ochoa is an American engineer, former director of Johnson Space Centre, and a former astronaut. She became the first Hispanic woman to travel to space in 1993. The space mission took nine days while she was on the Space Shuttle Discovery. She also became the first Hispanic director of Johnson Space Centre and the second woman to head the division between 2012 and 2018.
Ochoa is also a specialist in optical systems, whereby she has helped in the research and development of optical instruments. Some of her works in optics have received colossal recognition worldwide. Ochoa is also the chair of the National Service Board, which she began serving in 2020 after her exit as director of Johnson Space Centre.
5 Facts about Ellen Ochoa
- She became the first Hispanic woman to go to space in 1993.
- She has spent almost 1000 hours in space since her first voyage under four different missions since 1993.
- Four schools in the US have been named in her honor; two in California, where she stays, one in Texas, and one in Washington DC.
- She applied to be an astronaut three times to NASA before she was finally accepted in 1990.
- She was once a researcher at the NASA Ames Research Center before deciding to become an astronaut.
Best Ellen Ochoa quotes.
"I always tell every student that all the opportunities I had were as a result of having a good educational background. Take your education seriously since it will make you stand out among many."
"Being involved in space travel is one the most emotional things ever. It usually brings some of the highest moments and the lowest moments in life."
"We are always working harder each day to develop the best technology today. The technology will enable us to discover more species in space and finally help us reach Mars in the future."
"When I was in school, I really enjoyed English and American literature classes because of my teachers. It's very important to make learning interesting to students so that they can discover more about what they learn in class."
"Astronauts prepare themselves seriously before any launch to space as if it is the most important trip they will ever take in their whole lives."
Ellen Ochoa Biography
Early Life
Ellen Ochoa was born on 10th May 1958 in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were Joseph and Rosanne Ochoa. Her grandparents were from Sonora, Mexico, where they later moved to Arizona. It was in Arizona where her father was born. Her parents divorced before she could finish high school, and she lived with her mother and brothers.
Education
Ochoa attended Grossmont High School, located in El Cajon, where she graduated in 1975. She later attended San Diego State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physics in 1981.
During this time, she was living with her mother. She later pursued a masters' and doctorate from Stanford University, where she graduated in 1981 and 1985, respectively, in electrical engineering.
Marriage and Personal life
Ochoa is married to Coe Miles, who is a property attorney. They have two sons together from their marriage. Ochoa is also a fluent flute player, and she carried her flute to space in 1993.
Work
Ochoa's first work was as a researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, where she researched optical developments and made discoveries. Her optical research was used by scientists in space exploration, especially in detecting patterns while in space.
She also helped discover how sound can be removed from images, an application widely used in space exploration today. Due to her research, her works have been written in journals and scientific papers. She has also been awarded in the field of optics due to her discoveries.
NASA Career
Ochoa became an astronaut in 1991, and some of her works included checking flight robotics, software, and hardware. In 1993, she became the first Hispanic woman to space on a nine-day exploration exercise. The main aim of the journey to space was to study the earth's ozone layer and how it was being affected due to climate change.
In 2007, after retiring as an astronaut, she became the deputy director at Johnson Space Centre before becoming director from 2012 to 2018. As of 2021, she heads the National Service Board as its chair.
Legacy and Honors
Due to her achievements in space exploration, schools have been named after her in Texas, California, and Washington DC. She was also inducted into the National Academy of Investors. Ochoa has also received many medals, including the Exceptional Service Medal, which she was given in 1997, and an Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1995.
