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A chat with NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez
NASA Astronaut Jose Hernandez
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NASA
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Mission Specialists Jose Hernandez (left) and John "Danny" Olivas prepare food near the galley on the middeck of space shuttle Discovery after undocking with the International Space Station.
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NASA/JSC
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Backdropped by a blue and white part of Earth, the International Space Station is seen from space shuttle Discovery as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Undocking occurred at 2:26 p.m. CDT.
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NASA/JSC
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The thin line of Earth's atmosphere and the setting sun are featured in this image photographed by an STS-128 crew member on the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Discovery.
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NASA/JSC
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Listen
11:35
A chat with NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez
A chat with NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez
KPCC's Steve Julian chatted with NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez about his experience on the two-week Space Shuttle Discovery mission, what it was like to live in Stockton California, and who his role models were growing up.
The Space Shuttle Discovery returned last Friday from a two-week mission. One of its crew members was Jose Hernandez, who grew up picking tomatoes and cucumbers in California’s Central Valley, the son of migrant workers.
Hernandez launched a firestorm within NASA upon his return, saying the US should legalize its 12 million undocumented immigrants. NASA quickly said Hernandez was speaking only for himself and suggested he drop it.
Jose Hernandez agreed to talk with us about anything but the controversy.
While onboard the Discovery, Hernandez frequently tweeted updates on the mission – both in English and Spanish. It took him 12 years of applications to NASA to be accepted into the astronaut corps, and he gives a childhood teacher credit for convincing his parents to remain in Stockton.
Hernandez hopes NASA will assign him to a six-month mission to the international space station sometime in the next two or three years.
Listen to the audio for the full interview with Jose Hernandez
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