Students of Oxnard School District’s “Out of this World Writing & STEAM Camp” had an extraordinary opportunity to meet NASA Astronaut José M. Hernández during a special presentation on Wednesday, July 23 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. In addition to hearing from the former astronaut they were able to ask him questions, students experienced the excitement of space exploration through a visit to a mobile space museum.
This inspiring event is part of the Oxnard School District’s summer enrichment opportunities that spark curiosity in STEAM and literacy. Meeting an astronaut and exploring the mobile space museum gave students a memorable, hands-on learning experience that connects classroom content to the real world.
José Hernández is a Mexican-American engineer and astronaut. He and his family are originally from La Piedad, Michoacan, in Mexico. He currently serves as a Regent of the University of California.
In 2001, Hernández joined the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas. After three years and being turned down eleven times for astronaut training by NASA, Hernández was selected in May 2004. In February 2006 he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. On completing this initial training, Hernández was assigned to the Shuttle Branch to support Kennedy Space Center Operations in support of shuttle launch and landing preparations.
Hernández worked various technical assignments until his selection on July 15, 2008, as a mission specialist on the STS-128 mission, which launched on August 28, 2009. The STS-128 mission ended its 13-day journey on September 11, 2009, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
In October 2011, Hernández, at the urging of President Barack Obama, ran for Congress as a Democrat in California’s newly redrawn 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the Democratic nomination but lost the 2012 general election to freshman Representative Jeff Denham.
In 2023, a film entitled A Million Miles Away about Hernández’s NASA career, starring Michael Peña, was released. The film was based on Hernández’s 2012 autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.
The Oxnard School District provides a high-quality education that empowers students to reach their full potential. Through innovative programs and a commitment to excellence, we strive to inspire and equip our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world. Changing the world in school and beyond. Learn more: http://www.oxnardsd.org.