Ellen Ochoa

"This was the last astronaut job that was not (yet) done by a woman. Now with this milestone we can focus on the fact that what is important to succeed in life, it does not matter whether you are a man or a woman."

- Ellen Ochoa

"I don’t think about being first or second; I just think about doing the best job I can do."

- Ellen Ochoa

"Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars. I believe a good education can take you anywhere on Earth and beyond."

- Ellen Ochoa

"Education is what allows you to stand out"

- Ellen Ochoa

"Usually, girls weren’t encouraged to go to college and major in math and science. My high school calculus teacher, Ms. Paz Jensen, made math appealing and motivated me to continue studying it in college."

- Ellen Ochoa

"What everyone in the astronaut corps shares in common is not gender or ethnic background, but motivation, perseverance, and desire - the desire to participate in a voyage of discovery."

- Ellen Ochoa

"What everyone in the astronaut corps shares in common is not gender or ethnic background, but motivation, perseverance, and desire— the desire to participate in a voyage of discovery."

- Ellen Ochoa