The remarkable true story of José Hernández, a NASA astronaut with a humble beginning, has found its way to Hollywood. A biographical film, titled “A Million Miles Away,” chronicles Hernández’s extraordinary journey from being a migrant farmworker to becoming a mission specialist on the STS-128 space shuttle Discovery. Directed and co-written by acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella, the movie stars Michael Peña as José Hernández.
Hernández himself expressed his excitement on social media, announcing the film’s release on Amazon Prime to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month. He wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “T-minus 1 day for the movie, based on my life, #AMillionMilesAway to be released on Prime Video to coincide with #HispanicHeritageMonth! Hope you see & review it!”
José Hernández’s journey is a testament to the American dream. Born in California to Mexican heritage, he spent his early years working alongside his family as migrant farmworkers. However, his life took a remarkable turn when he witnessed the launch of Apollo 17 in 1972 on television. The sight of astronauts in space sparked a dream within him – a dream to become an astronaut himself. He recalled, “That is when my dream to become an astronaut was born because I would hear him, watch him, then go outside and look at the full moon. I would go back inside and listen to Gene Cernan and for that reason I told myself that would be me; I want to become an astronaut.”
José Hernández’s path to becoming an astronaut was not without challenges. Despite facing language barriers, he learned to speak English fluently by the age of 12. He pursued higher education, earning a degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Subsequently, he worked at the prestigious Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory before embarking on his quest to join NASA’s elite astronaut corps.
Remarkably, Hernández faced rejection 11 times before finally achieving his dream at the age of 41 when he was accepted into NASA’s 19th astronaut class. “A Million Miles Away” beautifully portrays Hernández’s determination, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of his lifelong dream.
NASA played a pivotal role in making this biographical film a reality. The agency provided technical expertise, authentic footage, imagery, and necessary clearances for set designs, props, and costumes. Brian Odom, the chief historian at NASA Headquarters, highlighted the significance of films like this in sharing inspiring stories and raising awareness of NASA’s history, particularly among the new generation – the Artemis Generation.
José Hernández hopes that his story will serve as an inspiration to countless individuals, encouraging them to pursue their dreams relentlessly. As he aptly put it, “I hope my story inspires many people to follow their dreams.”
Now, “A Million Miles Away” is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, allowing viewers to witness José Hernández’s incredible journey from a migrant farmworker to a NASA astronaut.
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