05/12/2023
Wishing Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, who was a REYES guest speaker and answered participants' questions live, a happy birthday!
Happy 65th birthday to astronaut Ellen Ochoa, who became the first Latina woman in the world to go to space during a mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993. An electrical engineer with a PhD from Stanford University, Ochoa is now the veteran of four space flights and has logged nearly 1,000 hours in space. During her inaugural flight, Ochoa, who is also a classical musician, played her flute in space as part of an educational event for children. In 2013, she made history once again by becoming the first Hispanic and second female director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Ochoa has also joined the elite group of astronauts who have been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
To introduce this trailblazer to children, we recommend the inspiring picture book, "The Astronaut With A Song For The Stars," for ages 5 to 9 at https://www.amightygirl.com/the-astronaut-with-a-song-for-the-stars
Ellen Ochoa is among the role models featured in the new picture book "She Persisted in Science" for ages 5 to 9 at https://www.amightygirl.com/she-persisted-in-science
She is also one of the extraordinary women featured the excellent book "Women In Space: 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures," for teens and adults, ages 12 and up, at https://www.amightygirl.com/women-in-space
To inspire your kids with true stories about more pioneering women of science, check out our blog post, "60 Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13914
And, if you'd like to encourage your children's interest in science, you can find many girl-empowering science toys and kits in our blog post, "Top 60 Science Toys for Mighty Girls" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10528
