Prime Video movie follows Central Valley farmworker’s journey from the fields to space

When José Hernández spoke about his 2009 trip into space as flight specialist on the Shuttle Discovery – and the journey from the fields to the stars – Francisco Moreno paid attention.

The 5-foot-8, 123 pound sophomore vowed he will fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL as a wide receiver.

“His talk encourages me a little bit,” said Moreno following Hernández’s presentation in the Parlier High School gym on Aug. 24. “It’s like if I believe that I can do it – and if my mom has faith in me – then I believe that I can do it.”

Astronaut José M. Hernández told Parlier High School students to go for their dreams, but to make sure they prepare for it during an Aug. 24, 2023 talk. Sophomore Francisco Moreno wants to be an NFL receiver.

Moreno, the only boy of seven children (he’s the middle child), grew up a fan of the Raiders while playing Pop Warner football.

“He inspired me more because if somebody from México and a small town like Stockton could do it, you just got to believe and achieve. You’ll be able to reach your goals,” said Moreno.

Hernández’s life story is depicted in the biopic “A Million Miles Away,” starring Michael Peña, which debuts Sept. 15 on Amazon Prime Video.

Actor Michael Peña in the movie inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away that follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm worker on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station.

Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm worker on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station.

The message of setting a goal and never giving up was what Hernández, a motivational speaker who criss-crosses the country, hoped to accomplish.

“It’s OK to dream big,” said Hernández, who dreamed of going into space when he watched grainy images of NASA astronaut Gene Cernan walk on the moon in 1972 on the Apollo 17 moon mission. Hernández was 10 at the time, the son of dirt-poor migrant farmworkers from Michoacán, México with no more than a third-grade education.

“I’m not a genius; I just worked hard. If you guys are willing to work hard, you too can achieve anything you want in life,” said Hernández, now owner of a 20-acre vineyard near Lodi that bottles wine under the Tierra Luna Cellars label.

The 61-year-old, who was born in French Camp, also serves on the UC Board of Regents. He forwards a portion of the wine sales to the League of United Latin American Citizens, the José M. Hernández Reaching for the Stars Foundation, Space for Humanity, and, MAES Latinos in Science and Engineering.

Taking that step into space was not easy. Hernández did not speak English until he was 12.

He told his father, Salvador, he wanted to be an astronaut.

“He took me to the kitchen and sat me down. He made me justify it,” Hernández told a packed gym.

Hernández quickly pointed out the moon was 250,000 miles away, that Cernan was the final Apollo Mission and that NASA would build a new space vehicle. “I wanted to be part of that.”

His father responded, “If you really want to do it, follow these five steps of this recipe.”

▪ Define your purpose in life.

▪ Recognize how far you are from your goal. “We lived in a dilapidated rental in the worst part of East Stockton,” said Hernández.

▪ Know the way to your destination. Draw yourself a map.

▪ Prepare by going to college.

▪ Put the same effort into school as you do working in the fields. “You put that effort into your job. Always, always give more,” his father said.

“I went to bed so happy because I said, ‘Wow, my dad thinks I could be an astronaut. He gave me a recipe. I’m going to be an astronaut,” said Hernández.

Later, he realized he had to add to his dad’s five-ingredient recipe: Perseverance.

He attended the University of the Pacific and UC Santa Bárbara. During his 15 years at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he helped develop the first full-field digital mammography imaging system to help in the early detection of breast cancer.

Hernández applied to the NASA space program to be an astronaut 11 times, and was rejected 11 times. His 12th application was accepted.

“They say the 12th time’s the charm,” said Hernández, who has run 11 marathons. “Who better to lead this planet dive into the unknown than a migrant farmworker?”

Hernández remains a big supporter of education. All five of his children graduated from college. His oldest son earned his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Purdue in July.

“The bottom line is what I tell my kids,” he said. “You guys need to go to college. It doesn’t matter what your study is; follow your passion. Your pay is going to be so much better than someone who doesn’t go to college.

“It’s going to help you in the long run.”

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