Dr. Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space
when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the shuttle
Discovery in 1993. She has flown in space four times, logging
nearly 1,000 hours. Prior to her astronaut career, Dr. Ochoa
was a research engineer and an inventor, with three patents
for optical systems. She is currently the Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)