Franklin Chang Díaz biography

Frankiln Chang Diaz 

Franklin Chang Díaz (born in San José, Costa Rica on April 5, 1950, holds dual citizenship: Costa Rican and American) is the founder and current president of Ad Astra Rocket Company, a company of US rocket technology, operations in Houston, Texas and Guanacaste, Costa Rica. In July 2005 concluded a successful 25-year career as a NASA astronaut in which he desempeñí 7 spaceflight, the current world record, and in the development of rocket engine, a new space propulsion system of the invention now being marketed. Throughout his career he has vigorously promoted science and space technology in Latin America, aware of the tremendous potential that exists in the region. In 1990, seeking integration schemes and regional cooperation in space technology, led a group of Latin American scientists in the organization of the First Space Conference of the Americas, sponsored by the United Nations and held in Costa Rica. Three similar conferences in Chile, Uruguay and Colombia followed this initiative. Two years later he helped form the project The Chaga Space, the first Latin American regional experiment in protein crystallization in space with medical applications, carried out in two of its missions on the space shuttle. More recently he has been involved in his native Costa Rica, where he leads the implementation of the XXI Century Strategy, a master plan designed to transform Costa Rica into a developed country by 2050. Graduated in 1977 as a doctor in science MIT he is married to Peggy Marguerite Stafford of Alexandria, Louisiana and father of four daughters. Enjoy music, flying and diving. His mother, brothers and sisters living in Costa Rica.

He has received: Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Connecticut (1980); Medal NASA Space Flight (1986, 1989, 1992, 1994); Medal of Freedom awarded by President Reagan in the Centennial Celebration of the Statue of Liberty in New York City (1986); Medal of Excellence from the Congressional Hispanic Coven (1987); Exceptional Service Medal by NASA (1988, 1990, 1993); Award for Feats of flying American Astronautical Society (1989); Award for Outstanding Technical Contribution at the National Conference of Hispanic Professional Engineers Awards (1993). He was awarded the Cross of the Venezuelan Air Force by President Jaime Lusinchi during 68avo Anniversary of the Venezuelan Air Force in Caracas, Venezuela (1988). He is recipient of three honorary doctorates.

Doctor of Science from the University of Connecticut and Doctor of Law from Babson College. It Honorary Citizenship of government Costa Rica (April 1995). This is the highest honor Costa Rica granted to a foreigner, making him the first to receive such an honor having been born there.


On August 26, 2013 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Costa Rica, in a ceremony where the president of the UCR, Henning Jensen, said that "the University recognizes and celebrates academic excellence and power inspiring personal achievements, and reciprocity has had for Costa Rican society ". one