Newly updated, Ellen Ochoa, Second Edition follows the life of the first Hispanic female astronaut to travel in space. After becoming an astronaut in July 1991, Ochoa became a mission specialist and flight engineer for NASA. She has since logged more than 900 hours in space and has helped open the door for Hispanic women in the field of science. In 2002, she was appointed deputy director of flight crew operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, managing and directing the astronaut office and aircraft operations. This engaging and visually appealing biography highlights Ochoa's heritage and achievements.
"Explores the life of Ellen Ochoa, including her childhood in California, her rise through the ranks in NASA, several space shuttle missions, and becoming the first Latino woman in space"--Provided by publisher.
There are few books that tell Ellen Ochoa's life story in an accessible, captivating way with age-appropriate language for young readers. Finally, here's a book that explores her barrier-breaking work as an astronaut and science administrator in a way that gives perspective about her struggle as a woman and Hispanic person in the world of science. This book facilitates exploration of America's space program for early elementary readers, capturing readers through the story of one inspiring, remarkable life. Give science curricula a chance to excite, interest, and motivate readers to initiate a lifelong quest of learning by adding this book to your collection.
This fascinating book introduces readers to the life and work of Ellen Ochoa, an astronaut who became the first Hispanic director of the Johnson Space Center. Historic images, “Did You Know?” sidebars, and a “Topic Spotlight” special feature provide added interest and context.
Voted the Best Space Book of 2018 by the Space Hipsters The dramatic inside story of the epic search and recovery operation after the Columbia space shuttle disaster. On February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated on reentry before the nation’s eyes, and all seven astronauts aboard were lost. Author Mike Leinbach, Launch Director of the space shuttle program at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center was a key leader in the search and recovery effort as NASA, FEMA, the FBI, the US Forest Service, and dozens more federal, state, and local agencies combed an area of rural east Texas the size of Rhode Island for every piece of the shuttle and her crew they could find. Assisted by hundreds of volunteers, it would become the largest ground search operation in US history. This comprehensive account is told in four parts: Parallel Confusion Courage, Compassion, and Commitment Picking Up the Pieces A Bittersweet Victory For the first time, here is the definitive inside story of the Columbia disaster and recovery and the inspiring message it ultimately holds. In the aftermath of tragedy, people and communities came together to help bring home the remains of the crew and nearly 40 percent of shuttle, an effort that was instrumental in piecing together what happened so the shuttle program could return to flight and complete the International Space Station. Bringing Columbia Home shares the deeply personal stories that emerged as NASA employees looked for lost colleagues and searchers overcame immense physical, logistical, and emotional challenges and worked together to accomplish the impossible. Featuring a foreword and epilogue by astronauts Robert Crippen and Eileen Collins, and dedicated to the astronauts and recovery search persons who lost their lives, this is an incredible, compelling narrative about the best of humanity in the darkest of times and about how a failure at the pinnacle of human achievement became a story of cooperation and hope.
They had the right stuff. They defied the prejudices of the time. And they blazed a trail for generations of women to follow. What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape -- any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age. Back matter includes an author’s note, an appendix, further reading, a bibliography, sources, source notes, and an index.
