Dr. Franklin Ramón Chang Diaz is a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions, making him the record holder as of 2014 for the most spaceflights. CEO Dr. Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz host a meeting and greet session with HASSE students in his plasma lab.

1_164113_1_litHASSE students and Ad Astra CEO, Dr. Franklin Diaz Chang .

HASSE students and HASSE Executive Director, James Liu visited Ad Astra Rocket Company. CEO Dr. Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz host a meeting and greet session with our students in his plasma lab.  Dr. Franklin Ramón Chang Diaz is a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions, making him the record holder as of 2014 for the most spaceflights (a record he shares with Jerry L. Ross).  Chang Díaz is a member of the NASA Astronaut Hall of Fame.  After leaving NASA, Dr. Chang Díaz set up the Ad Astra Rocket Company, which became dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket propulsion technology.  Years of research and development have produced the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR), an electrical propulsion device for use in space.  With a flexible mode of operation, the rocket can achieve very high exhaust speeds, and even has the theoretical capability to take a manned rocket to Mars in 39 days.  With such an intriguing background, Dr. Chang Díaz’s session was filled with his passion for space, especially mission to Mars.  He is the prime example on the importance of “set a giant goal and believe in it.”  Simultaneously, Dr. Chang Díaz reminded our students how important it is to “have fun” while doing it!