Official portrait of astronaut Ellen S. Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space.
The newly initiated astronaut would not fully comprehend the magnitude of her groundbreaking journey until much later.
At the time, it was really a personal thing, Ochoarecalls.
Official portrait of astronaut Ellen S. Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space. Taken in 1997. (Photo:NASA)
To her surprise, her actions had served to advance more than just science.
I realized the mission had repercussions well beyond that, sheremarks.
Ochoa aboard the SpaceHab in the Space Shuttle Discovery’s cargo bay during a mission in 1999.
Ochoa aboard the SpaceHab in the Space Shuttle Discovery’s cargo bay during a mission in 1999. (Photo:NASA)
That is something I did change.
Scroll down to see snapshots from Ellen Ochoas inspiring career as the first Hispanic woman in space.
For more of her journey, visit herwebsiteor follow her onTwitter.
Soon after being named an astronaut candidate, Class of 1990, Ochoa is about to take a familiarization ride in a NASA T-38 jet trainer. (Photo:NASA)
A former astronaut for NASA, Dr. Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman in space!
Taken in April 2002.
She retired in May 2018, after 30 years at the agency.
The five NASA astronauts assigned to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery for the STS-56\Atlas-2 mission. Left to right are astronauts Kenneth D. Cockrell, Steven S. Oswald, C. Michael Foale, Kenneth D. Cameron, and Ellen Ochoa. (Photo:NASA)
Ochoa uses a 70mm handheld camera to record an ocean scene during the ATLAS 2 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993. (Photo:NASA)
Secured in a collapsible seat on the middeck of a Shuttle trainer, Ochoa participates in a rehearsal of procedures to be followed during launch and entry phases of the scheduled November 1994 flight of STS-66. (Photo:NASA)
Astronauts Ellen Ochoa and Donald R. McMonagle completing an operation on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Atlantis during a mission in November of 1994. (Photo:NASA)
Ochoa floats through the tunnel that connected the STS-96 crew to the International Space Station (ISS) for several days in late May and early June 1999. (Photo:NASA)
Onboard Discovery’s SpaceHab, Ochoa surveys the near completion of a gigantic move effort of supplies from the shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS). (Photo:NASA)
Ochoa, STS-110 mission specialist, looks through the Earth observation window in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS). Taken in April 2002. (Photo:NASA)
Official portrait of Johnson Space Center Director and former astronaut Ellen Ochoa, taken in April 2014. She retired in May 2018, after 30 years at the agency. (Photo:NASA)
