Franklin Chang-Díaz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin Chang-Díaz
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Chang-Díaz in 1997
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Franklin Ramón Chang-Díaz
April 5, 1950 San José, Costa Rica
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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66d 18h 16m |
| Selection | NASA Group 9 (1980) |
| Missions | STS-61-C STS-34 STS-46 STS-60 STS-75 STS-91 STS-111 |
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Mission insignia
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Franklin Ramón Chang-Díaz was born on April 5, 1950, in San José, Costa Rica. He is a Costa Rican-American mechanical engineer, physicist, and former NASA astronaut. He is the founder and CEO of Ad Astra Rocket Company. He is also a member of the Cummins' board of directors. Chang-Díaz became an American citizen in 1977.
He flew on seven Space Shuttle missions. This tied the record for the most spaceflights at the time. He was the first Latin American immigrant chosen by NASA to go into space. Chang-Díaz is a member of NASA's Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Franklin Ramón Chang-Díaz was born in San José, Costa Rica. His father, Ramón Ángel Chang Morales, was an oil worker. His mother was María Eugenia Díaz. Franklin was one of six children. His younger sister, Sonia Rosa, was born in December 1952. His mother, brothers, and sisters still live in Costa Rica.
He has two older daughters from his first marriage. One of them, Sonia Chang-Díaz, is a member of the Massachusetts Senate. He married Dr. Peggy Marguerite Doncaster in the United States on December 17, 1984. They have two daughters, both born in Houston, Texas.
Schooling and College
Franklin graduated from Colegio de La Salle in San Jose in November 1967. He then moved to the United States. He finished his high school education at Hartford Public High School in Connecticut in 1969.
He went to the University of Connecticut. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in mechanical engineering in 1973. He then studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned a Ph.D. degree in applied plasma physics in 1977. For his research at MIT, Chang-Díaz worked on nuclear fusion technology. He also studied plasma-based rocket propulsion.
After graduating from MIT in 1979, Chang-Díaz helped develop a new method. This method used a special reactor to precisely aim fuel pellets. This was done to create a fusion event.
NASA Career
NASA chose Chang-Díaz as an astronaut candidate in 1980. His first flight was on Space Shuttle mission STS-61-C in 1986. He flew on six more missions after that. These included STS-34 (1989), STS-46 (1992), STS-60 (1994), STS-75 (1996), STS-91 (1998), and STS-111 (2002).
During the STS-111 mission, he performed three spacewalks. He worked with Philippe Perrin to help build the International Space Station (ISS). From 1993 to 2005, he was also the director of the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center. Chang-Díaz retired from NASA in 2005.
After NASA
After leaving NASA, Chang-Díaz started the Ad Astra Rocket Company. This company works on developing advanced plasma rocket technology. Years of research have led to the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR). This is an electric engine for use in space.
The VASIMR rocket can achieve very high speeds. With enough power, it could theoretically take a crewed rocket to Mars in just 39 days.
Chang-Díaz also works to protect the environment. He helps raise awareness about climate change. He was part of Odyssey 2050 The Movie. In the movie, he encourages young people to care about environmental issues.
He is also a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University. He has been on the board of directors for Cummins since December 8, 2009.
Awards and Recognition
In 1986, Franklin Chang-Díaz received the Medal of Liberty. He was added to the NASA Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 5, 2012. The ceremony took place at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Because of his career and scientific achievements, he has received many honors in Costa Rica. He was named an Honor Citizen by the national legislature. The Costa Rican National High Technology Center (CeNAT) is named after him. In 2014, Chang-Díaz received the "Buzz Aldrin Quadrennial Space Award." Buzz Aldrin, who was a childhood hero to Chang-Díaz, presented him with the award.
See also
In Spanish: Franklin Chang-Díaz para niños
- List of Asian American astronauts
- List of Hispanic astronauts
- Space exploration
