Photo: NASA on The Commons / No restrictions (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Ellen Ochoa, born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California, United States, is an astronaut and engineer. Ellen Ochoa is 68 years old as of 2026. Education on record includes Grossmont High School and Stanford University. Recorded honors include California Hall of Fame (2015), United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1995) and 3 more.
My Take
Ellen Ochoa is the kind of pioneer I admire most, because she did not stop at the headline. Yes, in 1993 she became the first Latina in space, and the wall of NASA medals speaks for itself. But what genuinely moves me is that she later ran the Johnson Space Center, trading the cockpit for leadership and opening doors for everyone behind her. A Stanford-trained engineer from Los Angeles, she turned a singular achievement into a lifetime of building paths for others. That combination of personal courage and institutional impact is rare, and it makes her a far richer figure than any single milestone could capture.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ellen Ochoa
- Name (Japanese)
- エレン・オチョア
- Reading
- えれん・おちょあ
- Born
- May 10, 1958 (age 68)
- Origin
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Occupation
- astronaut / engineer
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Dog
2. Background
- High school
- Grossmont High School
- University
- Stanford University
Awards & achievements
- 2015 California Hall of Fame
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- 1995 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
- 1997 NASA Exceptional Service Medal
- 1999 NASA Space Flight Medal
- 2000 NASA Exceptional Service Medal
- 2002 NASA Space Flight Medal
- 2003 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Ellen Ochoa born?
Ellen Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958 and is 68 years old.
Where is Ellen Ochoa from?
Ellen Ochoa is from Los Angeles, California, United States.
What does Ellen Ochoa do?
Ellen Ochoa works as astronaut, engineer.
Where did Ellen Ochoa study?
Ellen Ochoa attended Stanford University.
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