Cucumber farmer tries his hand at rocket science - News - Evening Standard
       

Cucumber farmer tries his hand at rocket science

The uncle of a Mexican engineer who became an astronaut after farming cucumbers shows off his photograph as his nephew prepares to go into space.

Jose Hernandez, a 47-year-old engineer who grew up in a migrant crop-picking family in California, will become the second Mexican in space when Discovery blasts off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. He will have to wait - thunderstorms forced Nasa to call off the Shuttle's launch to the international space station early today. Officials said they would try again tomorrow.

The astronaut, married with five children, spoke only Spanish until he was 12. He joined Nasa in 2001 as a research engineer. His uncle, Raul Moreno Vazquez, will be wishing him luck from his home in Ticuitaco in Mexico.

Also on the flight will be engineer Nicole Stott, 46, from Florida.

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity