Ellen Ochoa

Ellen Ochoa is an American engineer, former astronaut, and the first Hispanic woman to go to space. She was born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. Ochoa flew on four space shuttle missions and spent nearly 1,000 hours in space, working on important research projects. After her NASA career, she served as the director of the Johnson Space Center. Ochoa is also known for her contributions to optics and technology, holding several patents. Her achievements have inspired many, especially women and minorities in science and engineering fields.