Date of Birth: May 10, 1958
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Biography
Ellen Ochoa is an American engineer, former astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center. She was born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. Ochoa grew up in La Mesa, California, and graduated from Grossmont High School in 1975. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from San Diego State University in 1980 and then went on to receive a Master of Science and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1981 and 1985, respectively. Ochoa began her career at NASA in 1988 as a research engineer at Ames Research Center. In 1990, she was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA, and in 1993, she became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Throughout her career, Ochoa has logged nearly 1,000 hours in space across four shuttle missions. In addition to her groundbreaking work in space, Ochoa has been a pioneer for women and minorities in STEM fields. She has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to space exploration and education. From 2013 to 2018, Ochoa served as the 11th Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, becoming the second woman and the first Hispanic to hold the position.
5 Interesting Facts about Ellen Ochoa
1. Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space.
2. She has logged nearly 1,000 hours in space across four shuttle missions.
3. Ochoa is an accomplished classical flutist and has played with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra.
4. She holds three patents for optical systems and methods of noise removal.
5. Ochoa served as the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center from 2013 to 2018.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ellen Ochoa
1. “Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars.”
2. “I tell students that the opportunities I had were a result of having a good educational background.”
3. “Being an astronaut was something that I wanted, but I had to keep working at it.”
4. “We are all in this together, and our actions and decisions affect each other.”
5. “Science and technology are the keys to our future.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Ellen Ochoa’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Ellen Ochoa is married to Coe Fulmer Miles, and they have two children together.
Relevant Links
4. [Biography on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ellen-Ochoa
5. [Interview with Ellen Ochoa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjG3CX9iOk
