Today Atlanta Free Speech highlights Ellen Ochoa (born 1958). Ochoa is an astronaut and researcher of advanced optical information systems, Ochoa flew her first shuttle mission in 1993 as a Mission Specialist with the Discovery crew, conducting atmospheric and solar studies in order to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth’s climate and environment. The first Hispanic woman to be named an astronaut, she has logged over 500 hours in space.
