The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – Costa Rica’s exastronaut, Franklin Chang received an “Honoris Causa” Doctorate from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) for his contributions to science, technology and education worldwide.
The doctorate was given by representatives of the UCR, the main university of Costa Rica, during a ceremony. “It is a great honor. I’m overwhelmed by this recognition and I receive it with humbleness, it comes from an institution that constitutes a scientific and academic pillar in Costa Rica,” stated Chang.
Last year Franklin Chang became a recognized NASA member as one of the men with more trips to space, a total of seven between 1986 and 2002, in which he accumulated 66 days off the planet.
In 1986 he became the first Latin American astronaut and retired from NASA in 2005 to pursue his Ad Astra Rocket Company, where he developed a revolutionary plasma engine.
The University of Costa Rica explained that Chang was given the award because “he has become a source of motivation for young people in the fields of research, innovation and scientific and technological development.” In addition, “his research on applied plasma physics, nuclear fusion technology and rocket propulsion based on magnetically confined plasmas at high temperature are globally known”. FNL
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
