Jose M. Hernandez Net Worth: Jose Moreno Hernandez is a former NASA astronaut who made history in 2009 when he became the first person of Mexican descent to go to space. He was also the inspiration for the Amazon Prime movie A Million Miles Away, which shows his amazing journey from migrant farmworker to space explorer.
But how much is Jose Hernandez worth now, and what does he do now that he has left NASA? In this article, we’ll talk about Jose Hernandez’s net worth, his career, and the projects he’s working on right now.
Who is Jose M. Hernández?
José M. Hernández is a former NASA astronaut and American engineer. He is a Regent of the University of California at the moment.
Hernández was a member of the crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-128. He was also the head of Johnson Space Center’s Materials and Processes branch. Hernández worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to make tools for full-field digital mammography.
In October 2011, Hernández ran for Congress as a Democrat in California’s newly drawn 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. This was at the request of President Barack Obama.
He got the Democratic nomination, but Representative Jeff Denham, who was running for his first term, beat him in the general election in 2012.
Brief Information About Jose Hernandez
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jose Moreno Hernandez |
| Claim to Fame | Former NASA astronaut and first person of Mexican descent in space |
| Current Role | CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, owner of Tierra Luna Cellars vineyard, author, motivational speaker |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific (1984) |
| Master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara | |
| Career Highlights | Head of Johnson Space Center’s Materials and Processes branch |
| Member of the crew for Space Shuttle mission STS-128 | |
| Political Career | Ran for Congress as a Democrat in California’s 10th congressional district (2011) |
| Currently a Regent of the University of California | |
| Net Worth (2023) | Estimated net worth of $7 million |
| Involvement in Film Industry | Collaboration on the movie “A Million Miles Away” (2023) based on his autobiography |
Jose M. Hernández’s Educational and Career Journey
Hernández went to the University of the Pacific and got his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1984. He went to the University of California, Santa Barbara, and got a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering after two years.
He worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Northern California after getting his master’s degree. He was one of the few Latinos there. In the movie, he gets mistaken for the cleaner.
The production notes say that once he got there, he and a colleague worked together to make the first full-field digital mammogram.
Jose M. Hernandez Net Worth
Jose M. Hernandez is expected to have a net worth of $7 million in 2023. This is how much money he has made from his job as an engineer, his work for NASA, and his political efforts.
He is also a Regent of the University of California and a teacher who tries to get people to do good things.
Jose M. Hernandez is a talented and inspiring guy who has reached many milestones in his life. He is also kind and humble, and he gives money to children’s hospitals and programs that help kids learn. Many people who want to follow their dreams look up to him as an example.
Jose M. Hernandez Income Sources
He was an engineer and a NASA astronaut in the past: From 1990 to 2004, he worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he made the first digital imaging system for full-field mammography. He was also the head of the Materials and Processes branch at the Johnson Space Center, and he was part of the crew for the STS-128 mission of the Space Shuttle. In 2011, he quit his job at NASA.
His books and publications: He has written three books: a self-written biography called “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut,” a children’s book called “The Boy Who Touched the Stars,” and a middle-grade book called “From Farmworker to Astronaut: My Path to the Stars.” He also wrote scientific papers with other people about digital mammography and other things.
His speeches and public appearances: He is a motivational speaker who talks to schools, universities, corporations, and non-profits about education, leadership, diversity, and innovation. He shares his inspiring story and his thoughts on these topics. He also talks to the media and takes part in podcasts and shows like “My Voice, Our Story” and “Screen Rant.”
His political and public service: In 2012, he ran for Congress as a Democrat in California’s 10th congressional district. He lost to Republican Jeff Denham, who was already in office. He is a Regent of the University of California at the moment.
His involvement in the film industry: The movie “A Million Miles Away,” which comes out in 2023 and is based on his autobiography, is about him and stars Michael Pea as Hernández. He worked with the director and the actors to make sure that his life was shown in a true way.
Where is Jose M. Hernandez now?
Jose Hernandez is still very busy. He works at his California vineyard, Tierra Luna Cellars, and as the CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering. He also writes books and gives talks to inspire people.
Jose and his father, Salvador, are the ones who came up with the idea for Tierra Luna Cellars. The small vineyard is a tribute to the years his family spent grafting and the skills they learned in the process.
It was inspired by the work his family did in the fields for generations. Their own line of wines is named after the constellations that Jose saw while he was an astronaut.
What was Jose M. Hernandez doing?
Jose Hernandez went against all odds and became the first migrant farm worker to go into space. He did this by becoming a NASA astronaut, even though he was turned down for training several times. In 2009, he was the first person to use the Spanish language on Twitter (now called X) while in space.
Hernandez was born in Mexico to a family of migrants. He was one of four kids in the family. He didn’t learn to speak English until he was 12 years old.
Before that, he spent most of his childhood traveling between Mexico and California with his family. Every March, they came to the US to work in the fields and then went back to Mexico for Christmas.
And the Last, Is a Million Miles Away Based on a True Story?
Yes, A Million Miles Away is based on a true story and the 2012 biography of Latino NASA astronaut José M. Hernández, Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.
His parents were born in Michoacán, Mexico, but he was born in California, where he helped his parents work in the fields. He didn’t learn English until he was 12, and he rarely went to school. However, he went on to become an astronaut and go to space, which was his lifelong dream.
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