STS-75 press kit

Edited by Richard W. Orloff, 01/2001/Page 38
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in May 1980, Dr. Chang- Diaz became an astronaut in August
1981. While undergoing astronaut training he was also involved in flight software checkout at the Shuttle
Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), and participated in the early Space Station design studies. In late
1982 he was designated as support crew for the first Spacelab mission and, in November 1983, served as
on orbit capsule communicator (CAPCOM) during that flight. 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.
Dr. Chang-Diaz was instrumental in implementing closer ties between the astronaut corps and the scientific
community. In January 1987, he started the Astronaut Science Colloquium Program and later helped form
the Astronaut Science Support Group, which he directed until January 1989.
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: A veteran of four space flights, Dr. Chang-Diaz has logged over 656
hours in space. He was a crew member on STS 61-C in 1986, STS-34 in 1989, STS-46 in 1992, and STS-
60 in 1994.