This book explores the life of Ellen Ochoa from her childhood in California to her missions in space. On April 6, 1993, Ellen Ochoa, a mission specialist, sat in the space shuttle Discovery waiting for liftoff. As the launch pad rumbled and the engines ignited, the Discovery exploded upward into the sky. With this space shuttle launch, Ellen Ochoa became the first Latina to enter space. A brilliant inventor and an experienced astronaut, Ochoa quickly moved up the ranks at NASA and toured schools throughout the country, encouraging students to follow their dreams.