Ellen Ochoa was rejected twice from NASA's astronaut training program. But she wasn't one to be deterred. Instead, she channeled her focus into becoming a more competitive candidate by earning a pilot's license. NASA selected Ochoa for the program in 1990. Three years later, she made history as the first Hispanic woman in space during a nine-day STS-56 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Since then, Ochoa has been on four other missions into space for nearly 1,000 hours. She didn't always dream of launching into the cosmos. In the U.S., this was dominated by men. But in 1989, things changed. A 25-year-old Ochoa watched Sally Ride become the first American woman in space, sparking her to envision that she, too, could shoot for the stars. After many space milestones, Ochoa became the director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, making her the first Hispanic person and the second woman to hold the position. Whether on Earth or beyond, Ochoa blazed trails for future Hispanic scientists. Her persistence has inspired many to passionately pursue their dreams. #hispanicheritagemonth #msichicago #ellenochoa #spacemilestone