Ellen Ochoa
Ellen Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. Ellen received a bachelor of science degree in physics from San Diego State University in 1980, a master of science degree and doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1981 and 1985, respectively. As a pioneer of spacecraft technology, she patented an optical system to detect defects in a repeating pattern. At the NASA Ames Research Center, she led a research group working primarily on optical systems for automated space exploration. Ochoa is a co-inventor on three patents for an optical inspection system, an optical object recognition method, and a method for noise removal in images. Ochoa was selected by NASA in January 1990 and became an astronaut in July 1991. Since 2007, she served as Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center, helping to manage and direct the Astronaut Office and Aircraft Operations, and is retired from spacecraft operations. On January 1, 2013, Ochoa made history again by becoming the first Hispanic and second female director of NASA\'s Johnson Space Center.
Spaceflights:
No. Mission Position Time Duration
1 STS-56 MSP 08.04. - 17.04.1993 9d 06h 08m
2 STS-66 MSP 03.11. - 14.11.1994 10d 22h 34m
3 STS-96 MSP 27.05. - 06.06.1999 9d 19h 13m
4 STS-110 MSP 08.04. - 19.04.2002 10d 19h 42m
Total 40d 19h 37m
