José M. Hernández facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Hernández
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Official portrait, 2009
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José Moreno Hernández
August 7, 1962 French Camp, California, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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13d 20h 54m |
| Selection | NASA Group 19 (2004) |
| Missions | STS-128 |
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Mission insignia
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| Retirement | January 14, 2011 |
José Moreno Hernández (born August 7, 1962) is a Mexican-American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. His amazing life story, from working on farms to flying in space, was made into the 2023 movie A Million Miles Away.
Hernández flew on the Space Shuttle mission STS-128 in 2009. Before becoming an astronaut, he was an engineer who helped invent a new way to detect breast cancer. Today, he serves as a Regent of the University of California, helping to guide the state's university system.
After his time at NASA, he was encouraged by President Barack Obama to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the nomination for the Democratic Party but did not win the final election.
Contents
From Farmworker to Future Astronaut
José Hernández was born in French Camp, California. His family came from La Piedad, Michoacán, in Mexico. As a child, he spent half the year in Mexico and the other half in the United States.
He grew up working with his family as a migrant worker, traveling across California to harvest crops. Because his family moved so often, he went to many different schools. He didn't learn to speak English until he was 12 years old. A key moment in his life was watching the final Apollo moon mission, Apollo 17, on TV in 1972. This sparked his dream of going to space.
In high school, Hernández joined a program called Upward Bound, which helps prepare students for college. After graduating from Franklin High School in Stockton, he became the first person in his family to go to college. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific in 1984. He then earned a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1986.
A Career in Engineering
From 1990 to 2001, Hernández worked as an engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. While there, he co-invented the first full-field digital mammography system. This was a major step forward in technology. It created a special type of imaging system that helps doctors find breast cancer earlier.
Reaching for the Stars: NASA Career
In 2001, Hernández began working at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. His dream was to become an astronaut, but it wasn't easy. NASA turned down his application 11 times. But Hernández never gave up, and on his 12th try, he was finally selected in 2004.
He completed Astronaut Candidate Training in 2006. This training was very intense. It included science classes, learning all about the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS), and survival training in both water and the wilderness.
In 2007, Hernández became an aquanaut for a NASA mission called NEEMO 12. He lived and worked in an underwater laboratory for 11 days. This helped prepare him for the challenges of living in space.
Mission to Space
On July 15, 2008, Hernández was chosen as a mission specialist for the STS-128 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission launched on August 28, 2009. During his time in orbit, Hernández made history by becoming the first person to send tweets from space in Spanish.
The STS-128 mission lasted for 13 days. The crew delivered supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. The shuttle landed safely back on Earth on September 11, 2009.
Life After NASA
After retiring from NASA in 2011, Hernández entered politics. He ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 10th congressional district. He did not win the election but has remained active in public life.
Personal Life and Business
Hernández and his wife, Adela, have five children. For a while, his wife ran a Mexican restaurant near the Johnson Space Center.
Hernández also owns a vineyard in California where he grows grapes. In 2021, he started his own wine brand called Tierra Luna Cellars.
His life story inspired the 2023 movie A Million Miles Away, where he was played by actor Michael Peña. The film is based on his 2012 autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.”
Awards and Honors
Hernández has received many awards for his achievements, including:
- Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award (1995)
- Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES) "Medalla de Oro" (Gold Medal) (1999)
- NASA Service Awards (2002, 2003)
- Outstanding Engineer Award from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2001)
- University of California, Santa Barbara Distinguished Alumnus (2015)
- United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, National Hispanic Hero Award (2016)
- A middle school in San Jose, California, is named after him.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Casagrandes | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Rocket Plan" |
| 2023 | A Million Miles Away | Himself (played by Michael Peña) | Cameo role as a Closeout Crew Member |
See also
In Spanish: José Hernández (astronauta) para niños
- List of Hispanic astronauts
- 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California
- 2012 United States House of Representatives elections
