José Hernández Biography: NASA Astronaut, Engineer & Space Pioneer

José Hernández is a former NASA astronaut, electrical engineer, and spaceflight pioneer whose journey from the agricultural fields of California to orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery has become one of the most recognizable stories in American space exploration.

Born in French Camp, California, and raised in the Stockton area, Hernández grew up in a Mexican migrant-farming family. He developed an interest in science and engineering at an early age and eventually earned degrees in electrical engineering before building a distinguished career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and NASA.

After being rejected multiple times for NASA's astronaut program, Hernández was finally selected as an astronaut candidate in 2004. Five years later, he flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-128, spending nearly 14 days in space and helping deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station.

His story has since reached a much wider audience through the 2023 film A Million Miles Away, which dramatized his journey from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut. NASA itself contributed technical expertise, footage, and imagery to the production.

José Hernández Quick Facts

Category	Details
Full Name	José M. Hernández
Born	August 7, 1962
Birthplace	French Camp, California, USA
Hometown	Stockton, California
Nationality	American
Profession	Engineer, Former NASA Astronaut
Undergraduate Degree	B.S. Electrical Engineering
Graduate Degree	M.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering
Undergraduate University	University of the Pacific
Graduate University	University of California, Santa Barbara
NASA Selection	2004
Astronaut Class	NASA's 19th astronaut class
First Spaceflight	STS-128
Space Shuttle	Discovery
Mission Role	Mission Specialist / Flight Engineer
Launch	August 28, 2009
Return	September 11, 2009
Time in Space	13 days, 20 hours, 54 minutes
Space Station	International Space Station
NASA Departure	January 2011
Major Field	Electrical Engineering and Materials Research

NASA's Astronaut Fact Book records Hernández's STS-128 flight and a total time in space of 13 days, 20 hours and 54 minutes.

José Hernández's Childhood and Agricultural Background

José Hernández was born in California, but his family's roots were in Michoacán, Mexico.

His childhood was shaped by the seasonal work of migrant farm labor. His family traveled through California's agricultural regions according to the harvest seasons, working on farms and eventually returning to Mexico during part of the year.

Hernández has described growing up on what he called the "California circuit." The family would travel between agricultural areas, with work including crops such as strawberries and cucumbers. Because of this lifestyle, Hernández attended multiple schools and did not learn English until he was around 12 years old.

The constant movement created educational challenges, but mathematics and science became areas in which Hernández found particular confidence.

In a U.S. State Department conversation, Hernández explained that mathematics became a refuge because mathematical principles remained the same regardless of language. His interest in math and science eventually led him toward engineering.

The Moment José Hernández Decided to Become an Astronaut

One of the most memorable parts of José Hernández's story is the moment when his ambition to become an astronaut took shape.

While working in an agricultural field near Stockton, Hernández heard on a transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Díaz, a Hispanic-American, had been selected for NASA's astronaut corps.

That moment convinced him that becoming an astronaut was something he could pursue.

Hernández was already interested in science and engineering, but seeing someone with a Hispanic background enter the astronaut program made the goal feel more attainable.

His eventual career would show just how long that ambition could take to achieve.

José Hernández's Education

Hernández pursued higher education in electrical engineering.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

He later attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1986.

His engineering education provided the technical foundation for a career involving advanced imaging systems, materials science, spacecraft engineering, and eventually human spaceflight.

Rather than entering NASA immediately, Hernández first developed expertise through scientific and engineering research.

José Hernández at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

From 1987 to 2001, Hernández worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California.

His career at the laboratory involved progressively greater technical and management responsibilities.

He initially worked as an electronics engineer, developing expertise in areas including signal processing and image processing.

He later became involved in chemistry and materials science research and eventually served in management positions. He also worked on a U.S.-Russian program involving the purchase of highly enriched uranium and spent two years on assignment with the U.S. Department of Energy.

This period was important because Hernández developed far more than laboratory skills. He gained experience in technical leadership, project management, materials science, and large-scale scientific programs.

José Hernández and the Space Shuttle Columbia Investigation

Hernández's engineering career also intersected with one of NASA's most difficult periods.

His materials and processes work was connected to efforts examining the causes of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident.

As a senior materials engineer and later branch chief at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Hernández worked in areas including materials usage, fracture control, nondestructive evaluation, failure analysis, nanomaterials, and spacecraft-material compatibility. His branch contributed to work related to the investigation of the Columbia accident.

This experience placed Hernández directly within NASA's effort to improve the safety and reliability of human spaceflight.

José Hernández Joins NASA

In 2001, José Hernández joined NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as a materials research engineer.

His work involved developing, evaluating, and selecting advanced structural materials for aircraft and spacecraft structures.

By 2002, he had become chief of NASA's Materials and Processes Branch within the Structural Engineering Division. His responsibilities included materials and processes, fracture control, nondestructive evaluation, failure analysis, nanomaterials, and spacecraft-related materials research.

His position placed him close to the astronaut program, but becoming an astronaut was still far from guaranteed.

José Hernández's Repeated Attempts to Become an Astronaut

Hernández's path to NASA's astronaut corps was unusually persistent.

He applied to become an astronaut multiple times before finally being selected.

His eventual selection demonstrated that astronaut careers do not always follow a straightforward path. Hernández had already established himself as a highly experienced engineer and NASA employee before his astronaut opportunity arrived.

In May 2004, NASA selected Hernández as an astronaut candidate.

He became part of NASA's 19th astronaut class.

José Hernández's NASA Astronaut Training

After being selected, Hernández underwent extensive astronaut candidate training.

He completed training in February 2006, which included:

• Scientific and technical briefings

• Space Shuttle systems

• International Space Station systems

• Physiological training

• T-38 flight training

• Water survival

• Wilderness survival

• Spaceflight operations

Following training, he was assigned to NASA's Astronaut Office Shuttle Branch, where he supported Space Shuttle launch and landing preparations at Kennedy Space Center. He also trained as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control.

His preparation combined engineering knowledge with the operational skills necessary for human spaceflight.

José Hernández and NEEMO 12

Before his first spaceflight, Hernández also participated in NASA's NEEMO 12 mission in 2007.

NEEMO stands for NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations. These missions use an underwater habitat to simulate some aspects of living and working in space.

Hernández served as an aquanaut during NEEMO 12, spending 11 days living and working underwater aboard the Aquarius laboratory.

The mission provided experience with isolation, teamwork, scientific operations, and an environment in which movement and daily tasks differ significantly from normal life on land.

José Hernández and Space Shuttle Discovery

The defining spaceflight of José Hernández's career came in 2009.

He was selected as a mission specialist and flight engineer for STS-128, a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

The mission launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on August 28, 2009.

For Hernández, the flight represented the culmination of decades of education, engineering experience, NASA work, and repeated attempts to reach the astronaut corps.

STS-128: José Hernández's Space Mission

STS-128 was the 128th Space Shuttle mission and the 30th Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

The mission was focused heavily on transporting equipment, supplies, and scientific hardware to the ISS.

One of the major components carried by Discovery was the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, which transported supplies and equipment to the station.

The crew also rotated an ISS expedition crewmember and conducted three spacewalks.

Hernández's responsibilities included robotic operations and assisting with cargo transfer between Discovery and the International Space Station.

José Hernández's Time in Space

Hernández spent 13 days, 20 hours and 54 minutes in space during STS-128.

During the mission, Discovery and its crew completed 217 orbits of Earth and traveled more than 5.7 million miles.

The mission lasted approximately 332 hours and 53 minutes before Discovery returned to Earth.

Although his time in space was considerably shorter than the long-duration missions of modern ISS astronauts, the flight fulfilled the goal Hernández had pursued since childhood.

José Hernández and the International Space Station

STS-128 was an important logistical mission for the International Space Station.

The crew transported more than 18,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the orbital laboratory.

The Leonardo module served as a major cargo carrier, allowing the crew to deliver equipment and supplies required for ISS operations and research.

For Hernández, working aboard the ISS also represented a direct connection between his engineering career on Earth and the practical operation of a complex international laboratory in orbit.

José Hernández Made History in Space

Hernández's STS-128 mission carried cultural and technological significance.

During the flight, he became known as the first former migrant farmworker to travel into space, and his mission became a powerful example of the growing diversity of backgrounds represented in NASA's astronaut corps.

He also sent what UC Santa Barbara describes as the first Spanish-language tweet from space, connecting his historic flight with a broader Spanish-speaking audience.

His achievement became particularly meaningful because of how far his career had traveled from the agricultural fields where his interest in space had first taken shape.

José Hernández's Career After NASA

Hernández left NASA in January 2011 after completing his astronaut career.

His professional work after NASA continued to involve engineering, business, leadership, and efforts to encourage young people to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

He became associated with Tierra Luna Engineering, a company focused on engineering and technical services, and has remained active as a speaker and advocate for STEM education.

His work after NASA demonstrates that becoming an astronaut was not the end of his professional journey. Instead, his spaceflight experience became part of a broader career centered on engineering, leadership, education, and public engagement.

José Hernández and STEM Education

A significant part of Hernández's public work has been encouraging young people to pursue education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

He has spoken extensively about education and the importance of setting ambitious goals, particularly for students who may not initially see themselves represented in technical careers.

He also helped establish the Reaching for the Stars Foundation, an organization intended to encourage young people to pursue STEM education.

His own career provides a particularly strong example of how technical education can transform a person's professional opportunities.

A Million Miles Away: José Hernández's Story on Film

José Hernández's life story became the subject of the 2023 Amazon film A Million Miles Away, starring Michael Peña as Hernández.

The movie dramatizes his journey from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut.

NASA contributed technical expertise, archival footage, imagery, and assistance with the accuracy of the film's spacecraft-related sets, props, and costumes.

The film introduced Hernández's story to a global audience and emphasized the extraordinary distance—both literally and metaphorically—between his childhood in agricultural fields and his eventual journey into orbit.

José Hernández's Connection to Geography

José Hernández's story has a fascinating geographical dimension.

His childhood was shaped by the geography of California's agricultural regions. His family's work followed seasonal harvests, creating a life defined by movement between different farming communities.

That geographic journey eventually expanded dramatically.

Hernández moved from the agricultural landscapes of California to universities, scientific laboratories, NASA's Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and finally low Earth orbit.

His STS-128 mission allowed him to see Earth from hundreds of kilometers above its surface—a perspective completely different from the one he had experienced as a farmworker.

His biography therefore connects several geographical scales:

Michoacán, Mexico → California's Central Valley → NASA laboratories → International Space Station → Earth from orbit

This makes José Hernández's story particularly interesting from a geography perspective: it demonstrates how a person's journey can cross borders, regions, professions, and ultimately the boundary between Earth and space.

José Hernández's Major Achievements

NASA Astronaut

Hernández was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2004 after building a successful engineering career.

Space Shuttle Discovery Mission

He served as a mission specialist and flight engineer aboard STS-128, which launched in 2009.

International Space Station

He spent nearly 14 days in space while working with the ISS during STS-128.

Engineering Career

Before becoming an astronaut, Hernández developed extensive expertise in electrical engineering, materials science, imaging, failure analysis, and spacecraft materials.

STEM Advocate

Through speaking, education initiatives, and the Reaching for the Stars Foundation, Hernández has encouraged students to pursue STEM careers.

Inspirational Life Story

His transition from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut has made his career a prominent example of persistence and educational achievement.

José Hernández Career Timeline

Year	Milestone
1962	Born in French Camp, California
1984	Earned B.S. in Electrical Engineering
1986	Earned M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering
1987	Began career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
2001	Joined NASA Johnson Space Center
2002	Became chief of NASA's Materials and Processes Branch
2004	Selected as NASA astronaut candidate
2006	Completed astronaut candidate training
2007	Participated in NEEMO 12
2009	Flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-128
2009	Spent 13 days, 20 hours and 54 minutes in space
2011	Departed NASA
2023	His life story was adapted into A Million Miles Away

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Frequently Asked Questions About José Hernández

Who is José Hernández?

José Hernández is a former NASA astronaut and electrical engineer who flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission in 2009.

When was José Hernández born?

José Hernández was born on August 7, 1962, in French Camp, California, USA. His hometown is listed as Stockton, California.

What did José Hernández study?

He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific and a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from UC Santa Barbara.

When did José Hernández become a NASA astronaut?

NASA selected José Hernández as an astronaut candidate in May 2004. He completed astronaut candidate training in February 2006.

What Space Shuttle did José Hernández fly on?

Hernández flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission in August–September 2009.

How long was José Hernández in space?

Hernández spent 13 days, 20 hours and 54 minutes in space during his STS-128 mission.

What was José Hernández's role on STS-128?

He served as a mission specialist and flight engineer, helping with robotic operations and cargo transfer between Discovery and the International Space Station.

Did José Hernández work at NASA before becoming an astronaut?

Yes. He joined NASA's Johnson Space Center in 2001 as a materials research engineer and later became chief of the Materials and Processes Branch.

Is José Hernández's story a movie?

Yes. His life story was adapted into the 2023 Amazon film A Million Miles Away, starring Michael Peña. NASA contributed technical expertise and archival material to the production.

Conclusion

José Hernández's biography is a remarkable story of engineering, education, persistence, and exploration.

His journey began in the agricultural fields of California, where he grew up in a migrant farming family and developed an early fascination with science and space. That fascination eventually led him to electrical engineering, advanced scientific research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NASA, and finally the International Space Station.

After becoming a NASA astronaut in 2004, Hernández flew on Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission in 2009, spending nearly 14 days in orbit and helping deliver critical equipment and supplies to the ISS.

What makes José Hernández particularly inspiring is the connection between his beginnings and his achievements. His career demonstrates how education and technical expertise can open paths that may initially seem impossible.

From the fields of California to the International Space Station, José Hernández's journey represents one of the most memorable examples of human ambition reaching beyond geographical and professional boundaries.