Ellen Ochoa

Ellen Lauri Ochoa was born in Los Angeles, California in 1958, but considers La Mesa, California her home. She has always loved science and in elementary and middle school, science was her favorite subject. Ellen graduated from the University of San Diego, California in 1980, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and later obtained both her master’s and doctorate from the University of Stanford. As a pioneer of space technology, Ellen has dedicated most of her professional career in patenting an optical system that detects defects in repetitive patterns. Ochoa is a veteran of space travel, has travelled to space four times and has registered more than 1,000 hours in space. Apart from her patents, Ochoa is a co-inventor of three other patents for optical systems utilized in space equipment. Ochoa was recognized during the month of Hispanic Heritage in Cleveland, Ohio in September 14, 2011. Apart from being an astronaut, Ellen is currently director of the Johnson Space Center.