National Hispanic Heritage Month: Ellen Ochoa

By: Noor Al-Baghdadi

It is no secret that minorities, particularly women of color, were not welcomed into these spaces. In our last discussion, we spoke in more detail about how spaces that lacked inclusivity were only made more diverse and inclusive by the hands of those who were determined to create their own narrative in an environment that was equally determined to write it for them. The social realm was what we last spoke about as we highlighted the story of our iconic trailblazer Antonia Hernández. This time, I wanted to look at one of the first Latina women to create a place for Latina women far past the atmosphere into outer space. The woman who broke those barriers, achieving a role that millions could only have dreamed of, was Ellen Ochoa. Her success started when she became the first Latina woman in space in 1993 and continued as her career progressed. She now chairs the committee evaluating nominations for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation following her retirement from NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in 2018.

Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. She traces her Latine heritage back to her paternal grandparents, whose roots are in Sonora, Mexico. From a young age, Ochoa was deeply passionate about science, eventually attending San Diego State University and obtaining a degree in physics. After earning her bachelor's degree, Ochoa went on to obtain a master's degree and a doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Her research focused on optical systems and invention, particularly in the areas of optical information processing and high-performance computers.

In 1990, Ochoa was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. She underwent extensive training and became a mission specialist, contributing to various space missions. However, her most significant milestone came in 1993 when she joined the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-56, becoming the first Latina woman in space. Throughout her astronaut career, Ochoa completed four space flights and logged a total of over 950 hours in space. Beyond her space achievements, Ochoa also held administrative roles within NASA, including Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center and later, from 2013 to 2018, serving as the Director of the Johnson Space Center. Her leadership was pivotal in shaping NASA's future missions and initiatives.

Her success did not come easy. She struggled through the typical woman and Latina experience of people who told her or made her feel like she didn’t belong there. That her presence was unnecessary and unnatural. However, Ochoa's life and career serve as an inspiration to aspiring scientists and astronauts, particularly women and minorities, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM fields and dream of reaching new heights in space exploration and beyond. Looking at it, her story is really a full-circle moment as during her fourth and final flight, Ellen Ochoa brought along a suffragist flag, a symbol of the women who fought for the right to vote in the United States. She unfurled the flag on the International Space Station, honoring their legacy and inspiring future generations of women to reach for the stars. One of her sons had even asked her if boys could be astronauts too. Women who break barriers do so much more than open up doors that were previously closed off to women, they break down the strong-held institution of patriarchy, foster a new generation of men who look up to and respect women and foster a continuous cycle of inspiration and appreciation for women from other women. It’s a beautiful and necessary change and exactly why spaces for women are so pivotal in the strive towards a more equitable society. For women of color, this is especially important. Science and social activism are not the only fields are not the only places where Latina women have made available opportunities for women. They are one of the most notable and influential demographics in women’s history in the United States. And for that, we have a lot to thank them for.