Franklin Chang DÃaz
- STS 61- C ( 1986)
- STS -34 ( 1989)
- STS -46 (1992)
- STS -60 ( 1994)
- STS -75 ( 1996)
- STS -91 (1998)
- STS- 111 (2002)
Franklin Ramón Chang- Díaz ( born April 5, 1950 in San José, Costa Rica ) is a former NASA astronaut. As part of its activities at NASA, had Chang 1977 accept dual nationality (Costa Rica - USA), to participate in space missions allowed. He is married and has four children. His daughter Sonia Chang- Díaz is since 2009 Member of the Massachusetts Senate.
Chang- Díaz concluded in November 1967, the Colegio De La Salle in San Jose and went to 1969 to the Hartford High School in Hartford (Connecticut). His bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, he received in 1973 from the University of Connecticut. There he worked as a research assistant at the Department of Physics, where he was involved in the design of experiments of high-energy, atomic collisions. His doctoral thesis was on plasma physics and nuclear fusion at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977.
NASA activities
The selection of Chang- Díaz as astronaut candidate in May 1980. During the training, which he finished in August 1981, he was with software checks for the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory ( SAIL) busy. Between October 1984 and August 1985, he led the support group at the Kennedy Space Center.
Chang- Díaz has left NASA in July 2005.
STS 61- C
STS -61- C lifted on January 12, 1986 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Chang- Díaz was involved in the suspension of the SATCOM KU satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics. After 96 Earth orbits the Space Shuttle Columbia landed after six days at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
STS -34
During the STS -34 mission, the Galileo spacecraft to explore the planet Jupiter was suspended by the Atlantis. Was started on October 18, 1989 from Kennedy Space Center, landing on 23 October, at Edwards Air Force Base.
STS -46
The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on July 31, 1992 at the Kennedy Space Center for the STS -46 mission. During the eight-day flight, the satellite EURECA was suspended and carried out trials with the Tethered Satellite System (TSS ). The landing took place on August 8, also at the Kennedy Space Center.
STS -60
STS -60 was the first flight of the Wake Shield Facility ( WSF -1 ) and the second flight of the Spacehab aboard Discovery. Takeoff and landing took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
STS -75
The Columbia lifted on 22 February 1996 from the Kennedy Space Center on the STS- 75. On the 15-day mission, the Tethered Satellite System (TSS ) was used again. TSS proved that electricity could be generated with this system. It was also the third flight of the United States Microgravity Payload ( USMP -3).
STS -91
STS -91, carried out by the Discovery, was the ninth and final docking of a shuttle to the Russian space station Mir. It marked the completion of a successful collaboration. Takeoff and landing took place at the Kennedy Space Center. With this flight, he moved with John Young and F. Story Musgrave with six space flights the same.
STS -111
The Endeavour brought a new crew and the Canadian Mobile Base System with a robot arm to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew repaired the short term nor a joint in the remote manipulator during Misson. During the flight, Chang- Díaz took part in three spacewalks activities. Due to bad weather, the Endeavour was forced to land in California after thirteen days at Edwards Air Force Base. With this flight, he and Jerry Ross with seven spaceflights same.
Summary
According to the NASA
Chang- Díaz left NASA in July 2005. He founded the company Ad Astra Rocket Company, which specializes in the development of plasma actuators in the aerospace industry. In January 2006, signed Ad Astra and NASA a framework agreement for the development and use of the drive concept VASIMR, the Chang- Díaz was designed in 1979 and still under development. The contract was renewed in December 2007.
Awards
- NASA Space Flight Medals ( 7x)
- NASA Distinguished Service Medals ( 2x)
- NASA Exceptional Service Medals ( 3x).
- Various honorary doctorates
- Honorary citizen of Costa Rica
Special features and Records
- Second man with seven spaceflights