Franklin R. Chang-Díaz
Dr. Chang-Díaz is a veteran of seven space shuttle missions and holds a doctorate in applied plasma physics. His work as a scientist astronaut helped foster closer ties between the astronaut corp and the science community.
Quick Facts
Biography
Franklin R. Chang-Díaz
Selected by NASA as part of the 1980 class of Space Shuttle astronauts, Dr. Chang-Diaz first flew as a mission specialist on the STS-61C mission in 1986. HIs 25-year career as an astronaut included seven space shuttle missions and serving as the Director of the NASA Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory from 1994-2005 where he led the early development of the VASIMR® rocket engine. After retiring from NASA, Chang-Diaz founded the Ad Astra Rocket Company to continue his work to build sustainable, efficient, and high-power propulsion systems.
Learn More about Franklin R. Chang-Díaz![Franklin Chang-Diaz holding a taco on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Columbia](https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/sts075-350-035/sts075-350-035~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1257&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint)
Missions Flown by Franklin Chang-Díaz
Former Astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Díaz
Special Session with Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz, Former NASA Astronaut
Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) 2020
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