Mexican-American engineer and veteran astronaut Ellen Ochoa made history multiple times throughout her career but most notably as the first Latina to go to space on April 8, 1993 when she served on the nine-day STS-56 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993. Ochoa has also made history as the first Latina director and only the second female director of the Johnson Space Center. Born in California, Ochoa earned her degree in physics from San Diego State University and a master’s degree and doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Her work has been recognized with NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award for senior executives in the federal government. ⁠ ⁠ #EllenOchoa #MexicanAmerican #ThisWeekInHistory #Latina #LatinaInStem #HistoryMade #Poderosa #LatinaPower #Chicana #WomenInSpace