Latinos+Essay+CJ

=Resources=
 * Scholastic - Latinos in History
 * FactMonster.com
 * [|Wikipedia]

__Franklin Chang Diaz__- (wikipedia)
 * Early Life**
 * April 5, 1950
 * Costa Rica
 * Became American citizen in 1977
 * His grandfather (and father) was Chinese and his mother was Costa Rican
 * Has five other siblings
 * Graduated elementary school in November 1967, then moved to US to finish high school in Connecticut in 1969
 * attended University of Connecticut
 * earned Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering
 * attended Massachusetts Institute of tech. and earned a Doctor of Plasma Physics in 1977
 * worked in the field of fusion tech. and plasma-based rocket propulsion


 * NASA**
 * selected as astronaut candidate by NASA in 1980
 * first mission was in 1986
 * launched from Kennedy Space Center on space shuttle Columbia. STS 61-C was a six-day flight, during which Dr. Chang-Díaz participated in the deployment of the SATCOM KU satellite, conducted experiments in astrophysics and operated the materials processing laboratory MSL-2. Following 96 orbits of the Earth (http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/chang.html)
 * 6 more followed in 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2002
 * did three spacewalks with Philippe Perrin as part of the construction of International Space Station
 * as of 2004, was one of only two astronauts to serve on seven space missions
 * director of Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at Johnson Space Center from 1993- 2005
 * retired in 2005

> http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/VASIMR >
 * Post-NASA**
 * set up Ad Astra Rocket Company. dedicated to development of advanced plasma rocket propulsion tech.
 * created the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASMIR).It is an electrical propulsion device for use in space
 * inducted in to NASA Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 5, 2012. Took place in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
 * Awarded many times in Costa Rica and named Honor Citizen by the national legislature
 * 2014, Chang Diaz was awarded the "Buzz Aldrin Quadrennial Space Award" for the VASMIR. Buzz Aldrin presented the award

**Awards- (nasa bio page)**
 * 1- University of Connecticut’s Outstanding Alumni Award (1980)
 * 2-seven NASA Space Flight Medals (1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002)
 * 8- two NASA Distinguished Service Medals (1995, 1997)
 * 6-three NASA Exceptional Service Medals (1988, 1990, 1993)
 * 3-Liberty Medal from President Ronald Reagan at the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York City (1986)
 * 4-the Medal of Excellence from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (1987)
 * 5-Cross of the Venezuelan Air Force from President Jaime Lusinchi during the 68th Anniversary of the Venezuelan Air Force in Caracas, Venezuela (1988)
 * 7-Flight Achievement Award from the American Astronautical Society (1989)
 * 9-American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2001 Wyld Propulsion Award. This is for working on VASMIR for 21 years.