Former American Astronaut and Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz Visited ASIPP

Former American Astronaut and Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, with the company of Professor Liu Jiashu from the University of Houston  visited ASIPP on Nov. 18.

Director Li JIangang introduced the researches of ASIPP to the two guests, especially HT-7, EAST, plasma application and ITER project. Mr. Wu Songtao, associate director of ASIPP, introduced the design of EAST, the development and the assembling, etc.

Doctor Franklin Chang-Diaz made a speech about the introduction about the space career and the development of VASIMR project. He also visited HT-7 and EAST.

Doctor Franklin Chang-Diaz,born on April 5, 1950, in  Costa Rica. He got his doctorate in applied plasma physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977. Selected by NASA in May 1980, Dr. Chang-Dìaz became an astronaut in August 1981.From October 1984 to August 1985 he was leader of the astronaut support team at the Kennedy Space Center. His duties included astronaut support during the processing of the various vehicles and payloads, as well as flight crew support during the final phases of the launch countdown. He has logged over 1,800 hours of flight time, including 1,500 hours in jet aircraft.