Ellen Ochoa

astronaut · engineer · space exploration · leadership

First Latina in space. In 1993, Ellen Ochoa flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on a nine-day mission, making history as the first Latina to go to space.

Brilliant engineer. Before becoming an astronaut, Ochoa worked as an engineer and inventor, developing optical inspection systems for spacecraft and other technology.

Led the control center. In 2012, Ochoa became director of the Johnson Space Center, where NASA's mission control operates and astronauts train for space missions.

Broke barriers twice. Ochoa was not only the first Latina astronaut but also the second woman ever to direct the Johnson Space Center, opening doors for others.