The Space Race captivated the world in the 1950s–1970s, inspiring many as people took to the stars for the first time in history. For José Hernández, watching Apollo 17 land on the moon from his home television at 10 years old, space flight became his life’s dream. He watched astronauts walk on the moon and then went outside to gaze up at the sky, and his heart was set.
But countless like him had the same ambitions. Today, fewer than 800 people have had the privilege to journey to space, and José Hernández is one of them. So how did he become the one in a million (actually, one in 10 million) to make it to outer space?
Establishing Roots in One Place
At RootsTech 2026, José Hernández shared his story. He credits his success to the people in his life and the values he learned as a child.
Early on, José’s family migrated throughout the year to work the fields in California. For 9 months, they would travel between farms, where he and his 3 siblings harvested produce alongside their father. For the remaining 3 months, they would return home to Mexico, where his mother dutifully continued their education from his grandmother’s kitchen.
Being on the move wasn’t always easy. Reflecting on his mixed heritage, José says, “When I would go to Mexico, of course I would speak Spanish with an accent. When I would come back to school here in Stockton, I would speak English with an accent. In one place, I was too Mexican to be American. In another place, I was too American to be Mexican.”
Eventually, one of José’s teachers, Miss Young, encouraged his father to settle in one place. She asked him to think about a tree that is transplanted every 3 months. She said, “You, who are an expert in agriculture, what happens to that tree in the long run? It’s going to be weak. And if it’s a fruit tree, it probably won’t even bear fruit. Because a tree needs to be in one place for the roots to grow deep, and the tree can grow big and strong.”
From then on, their family stayed in Stockton, California, and continued to harvest in the fields.
Work Ethic Second to None
The labor, though difficult, ingrained in José the work ethic that would become essential to his success as an astronaut. His father told him, “If you really want to do this, follow this 5-ingredient recipe—
- Determine your purpose in life.
- Recognize how far you are from that purpose.
- Draw yourself a roadmap from where you know you’re at to where you need to get.
- Then prepare yourself according to the challenge.
- Develop a work ethic second to none.”
José says, “This is what helped me develop my work ethic, good old farm-working chores that I had to do as a kid.” This diligence had been built up over generations. As he learned from the RootsTech team, his ancestors had worked the very same fields since before Mexico had even become a country.
After one long day of harvesting in the fields, José's dad asked the kids how they felt. Of course, they were tired and told him so. José’s father said, “Good, I want you to remember this feeling. I’m not going to force you to go to school, much less get good grades, but if you’re wondering what your future’s like without an education, welcome to your future.”
Exhausted, José internalized that lesson and decided then what kind of future he wanted to work toward.
What Do They Have That You Don’t?
In his adult years, José Hernández kept pursuing his ambitions to reach the stars. He graduated with a master’s degree in engineering and began applying to NASA’s astronaut program. In response, he received letters saying that he met the qualifications, but so did almost 13,000 other applicants. He was not selected as a finalist.
José kept trying, but by the 6th rejection, he was getting discouraged. If not for his wife, Adela, he might have given up on his dream.
She picked up a crumpled-up rejection letter he had thrown on the ground and said, “Huh? I didn’t know I married a quitter.” She reminded him that the letter encouraged people to reapply and asked him, “What do they have that you don’t?”
This question fueled José to keep trying. He started comparing himself to the people who had been selected and began learning new skills to match theirs. Among other things, he trained as a pilot and became certified in scuba diving.
Eventually, after 12 applications, José Hernández was hired into NASA’s space program. On 28 August 2009, Jose went to space on the 39th mission of the space shuttle Discovery as a mission specialist and flight engineer.
Family Sacrifices
José's reflects on the sacrifices his family went through to support him in reaching his dream. His wife also learned a strong work ethic from working with her family in the fields. José says, “The real hero in this story is not me. It’s my wife. My wife's attitude was always willing to say, 'We've got to do what you need to do to get you closer.' I think that’s the type of partnership you need to be successful."
José’s story, like many success stories, is one backed by parents who taught him, generations of ancestors who worked hard for their families, and the family he built with his wife and children.
What Are Your Family Stories?
Our stories are often shaped by people—those who came before us and those we choose to surround ourselves with. Did you know you can unlock the memories others have shared about your ancestors by connecting to the FamilySearch Family Tree? How have their stories helped to shape yours, and what have you yet to uncover?
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