ELLEN OCHOA
Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic American woman to fly in space. Read her
student interview from Hispanic Heritage month 1999.
Dr. Ellen Ochoa is a veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle flights. She has logged
over 719 hours in space, traveling four million miles in one mission alone!
Before NASA selected Ellen to become an astronaut, Ellen proved herself on Earth
by getting a doctorate degree in electrical engineering and co-inventing three
patents for optical engineering systems.
Born in southern California in 1958, Ellen was interested in space exploration
as a girl. NASA hired its first women astronauts when she was studying physics
in college in the 1970?s. Ellen saw the astronaut program as a way of combining
her interest in research and engineering with space exploration. She became an
astronaut in 1991.
In April, 1993, Ellen became the first Hispanic-American woman in space. As a
mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-56, she
deployed and captured a research satellite used for the study of the sun. During
the nine-day mission, she also took part in studies of Earth?s atmosphere and
the effect of the sun on Earth?s climate and environment. In November 1994,
Ellen was also payload commander aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis for mission
STS-66.
Ellen spent a number of years working on the development of the International
Space Station. In May and June 1999, Ellen flew aboard the Discovery, mission
STS-96, which became the first Space Shuttle to actually dock with the Space
Station. On board the Space Shuttle were supplies to be used by the first crews
living and working on the Space Station. Working 200 miles above the Earth,
Ellen operated a robot arm that helped transfer four tons of clothing, computers,
and medical equipment from one ship to the other.
Ellen plays the flute, flies planes, and enjoys volleyball and bicycling. She
and her husband have one son.
Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic American woman to fly in space. Read her
student interview from Hispanic Heritage month 1999.
Dr. Ellen Ochoa is a veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle flights. She has logged
over 719 hours in space, traveling four million miles in one mission alone!
Before NASA selected Ellen to become an astronaut, Ellen proved herself on Earth
by getting a doctorate degree in electrical engineering and co-inventing three
patents for optical engineering systems.
Born in southern California in 1958, Ellen was interested in space exploration
as a girl. NASA hired its first women astronauts when she was studying physics
in college in the 1970?s. Ellen saw the astronaut program as a way of combining
her interest in research and engineering with space exploration. She became an
astronaut in 1991.
In April, 1993, Ellen became the first Hispanic-American woman in space. As a
mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-56, she
deployed and captured a research satellite used for the study of the sun. During
the nine-day mission, she also took part in studies of Earth?s atmosphere and
the effect of the sun on Earth?s climate and environment. In November 1994,
Ellen was also payload commander aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis for mission
STS-66.
Ellen spent a number of years working on the development of the International
Space Station. In May and June 1999, Ellen flew aboard the Discovery, mission
STS-96, which became the first Space Shuttle to actually dock with the Space
Station. On board the Space Shuttle were supplies to be used by the first crews
living and working on the Space Station. Working 200 miles above the Earth,
Ellen operated a robot arm that helped transfer four tons of clothing, computers,
and medical equipment from one ship to the other.
Ellen plays the flute, flies planes, and enjoys volleyball and bicycling. She
and her husband have one son.