The inspiring true story of NASA astronaut José Hernández has found its way to the big screen.
Amazon Prime is now streaming a biographical film (or biopic) on José Hernández’s path from migrant farm worker to STS-128 mission specialist on the space shuttle Discovery. “A Million Miles Away,” directed and co-written by highly acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella and starring Michael Pea, follows Hernández as he transitions from laboring in the fields with his family to following his ambition of soaring into space.
“T-minus 1 day until the film #AMillionMilesAway, based on my life, is released on Prime Video to coincide with #HispanicHeritageMonth!” I hope you watch it and review it!” On the eve of the film’s Sept. 15 release, Hernández posted on X (previously known as Twitter).
About José Hernández
Hernández, who was born in California, is of Mexican descent and spent his childhood picking fruit with his family, who are all migrant farmworkers. Hernández was watching television when Apollo 17 launched in 1972. “That’s when I decided I wanted to be an astronaut because I would hear him, watch him, and then go outside and look at the full moon.” “I would go back inside and listen to Gene Cernan, and I told myself that would be me, that I want to be an astronaut,” Hernandez told The Californian in 2016.
Hernández studied electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara after learning to speak English at the age of 12. He then went on to work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he began applying for NASA astronaut positions.
Hernández’s candidacy was rejected 11 times before it was finally accepted at the age of 41 to join NASA’s 19th astronaut class.
“A Million Miles Away” portrays Hernández’s true story with assistance from NASA, which offered “technical expertise, footage and imagery, and secured clearances for set designs, props, and costumes,” according to an agency statement. “[F]ilms like this provide meaningful platforms to help tell stories like Hernandez’s, while also fostering awareness of NASA’s history and inspiring a new generation — the Artemis Generation,” said Brian Odom, NASA Headquarters’ chief historian.
“I hope my story inspires many people to follow their dreams,” Hernández said on X.
“A Million Miles Away” is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
