Biography of Ellen
Ochoa
By Radiyah Shakur
 Ellen
Ochoa has been where very few of us have gone, or ever
will go – space. Not just once, but Dr. Ellen Ochoa is a veteran of three
NASA space flight missions; and has logged over 719 hours
in space.
Ellen, one of five children, was born in southern
California in 1958. She was interested in space
exploration as a girl. The US National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (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.
In 1980 she graduated top of her class from San
Diego State University with a Bachelor Science
Degree in Physics. Ochoa also earned a Masters
of Science and a Doctorate in electrical engineering
from Stanford University in 1981 and 1985, respectively.
Ellen’s doctoral work in electrical engineering
led to co-inventing three patents for optical engineering
systems.
In 1990 while working as a research engineer,
Dr. Ochoa was chosen by NASA to train as an astronaut
at the Johnson Space Center. In April 1993, Ellen
became the first Hispanic woman in space on a nine-day
mission aboard the shuttle Discovery, where the
astronauts were studying the Earth's ozone layer.
In November 1994, Ellen was payload commander aboard
the space shuttle Atlantis. Her most recent mission
was a ten- day mission aboard the Discovery in
May and June1999.
Dr. Ellen Ochoa has received various accolades
for her achievements. NASA has honoured Ochoa with
seven awards for outstanding achievement. Other
awards she received include: Women in Aerospace
Outstanding Achievement Award, the Hispanic Heritage
Leadership Award, and in 1999, Ochoa was selected
by President Clinton to serve on the Presidential
Commission on the Celebration of Women in American
History.
Ellen plays the flute, flies planes, and enjoys
volleyball, bicycling and speaking to young people
about the importance of having a good education
background. She and her husband have one son.
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