Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration faculty member Oliver Dominguez recently helped produce a biography about astronaut Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to fly into space. Dominguez created the illustrations for Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, which was written by Doreen Rappaport, published by Little Brown Books, and edited by Deirdre Jones.
NASA and space travel have been front and center in Dominguez’s imagination and interests since he was a child, dreaming of becoming an astronaut.
He explained, “For me, the fascination wasn’t just about flying into space—it was about the mechanics behind it all. I was captivated by the idea of designing and engineering the machines that make space travel possible. I loved taking things apart just to figure out how they worked. I even spent time drawing machine parts for fun! The creativity and problem-solving involved in engineering sparked my imagination.
One pivotal moment in my life was visiting the Kennedy Space Center as a child. I met a former astronaut and asked him a simple question about his space suit. That encounter sparked an idea in my mind: One day, I could create illustrations that tell stories and inspire others in extraordinary ways about space.”
Illustrating a book about NASA became a lifelong dream for him, and led him to Ellen Takes Flight. The book shares the story of Ochoa, who became the first Hispanic woman to enter space in 1993, as part of a nine-day mission aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle.
After the book launched, Dominguez hosted a presentation and reading at the Space Center Houston, the visitor’s center and museum for the Johnson Space Center where Ochoa worked.
Dominguez explained, “I pitched the Space Center Houston on a special presentation. Knowing Ellen Ochoa used to work at Johnson Space Center. The concept was to share the book I illustrated, showcase my original paintings, and talk about my journey as a children’s book artist and my passion for space. It was designed to inspire children of all ages and families. To my amazement, they said yes! I was over the moon—no pun intended. Space Center Houston invited me to participate during Hispanic Heritage Month, giving me the opportunity to showcase my original artwork, present my journey as an illustrator to the public in the Destiny Theatre, and read my book to children and families.”
He shared, ”One of the most unforgettable moments was hearing Ellen Ochoa herself give a presentation about her time as an astronaut and express her appreciation for the book I illustrated. I was absolutely blown away!”
He also met the director of Space Center Houston and a few ex-astronauts and had the chance to explore the campus: “It was an incredible experience—a blend of art, storytelling, and space exploration, all coming together in a way I never could have imagined.”
