Franklin R. Chang-Diaz
Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz is a physicist, plasma propulsion researcher, NASA astronaut, and seven-flight shuttle veteran. Became one of the most-flown astronauts in shuttle history and the first Costa Rican-born astronaut.
- Born
- April 5, 1950
- Died
- N/A
- Birthplace
- San José, San José Province,Costa Rica
Flights
7
Spacewalks
3
EVA time
19 hours, 31 minutes
In space
66 days, 18 hours, 16 minutes
Bio
Before and around spaceflight, Franklin R.Before and around spaceflight, Chang-Diaz developed a technical foundation through study at University of Connecticut and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That background matters because the shuttle era depended on astronauts who could move between spacecraft operations, payload science, robotics, aviation, and public-facing international work.
Chang-Diaz flew on STS-61-C, STS-34, STS-46, STS-60, STS-75, STS-91, STS-111 during the operational Space Shuttle era.
Flew seven shuttle missions. First Costa Rican-born astronaut. Tied the historical record for most spaceflights by an astronaut.