No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsletterSpace Ticos: Astronaut Franklin Chang with Barack Obama in 2015

Space Ticos: Astronaut Franklin Chang with Barack Obama in 2015

Saturday, July 20 marks 50 years since the Apollo 11 crew made their historic landing on the moon.

To commemorate the occasion, we’re sharing a 2015 story on Franklin Chang, the Tico physicist who participated in seven Space Shuttle missions.

Read more about Franklin Chang in The Tico Times here.

***

A photograph of Tico physicist, entrepreneur and former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz helping President Barack Obama move a sofa back in place in the Oval Office was chosen as one of the year’s best by White House photographers.

The image was taken by Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza, and published by the White House in a photo gallery called “Behind the Lens: 2015 Year in Photographs.

Souza explained that the photo shows astronauts from the Columbia Space Shuttle crew during a meeting with President Obama. NASA director Charles Bolden and Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, both Columbia alumni, also appear in the photo.

The meeting took place June 9 when Obama invited members of the 61-C mission, Chang’s first aboard Columbia in January 1986. Astronauts were in Washington celebrating the anniversary of the mission.

Souza said of his photos, “I not only found key historic moments from the year, but also chose moments that give people a more personal look at the lives of the President and First Lady.”

Franklin Chang with crew of the STS-61C NASA Mission
(Courtesy of NASA)

Trending Now

500 Prisoners Die in El Salvador Custody During Bukele Anti-Gang Crackdown

A Salvadoran human rights organization says at least 500 people have died in state custody since President Nayib Bukele launched his anti-gang offensive four...

Christina Aguilera Gives Rare Glimpse Into Family Life in Costa Rica

Pop icon Christina Aguilera is giving fans a rare and heartwarming window into her life as a mom, sharing a video recap of her...

El Salvador Rescues 16 Ecuadorian Fishermen Lost in Pacific Waters

El Salvador’s Navy rescued 16 Ecuadorians whose vessel caught fire a week ago in Pacific waters near the Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador’s Navy reported. The...

Maduro Son Calls Charges Unlikely to Be Dropped in U.S. Drug Case

Nicolás Maduro’s son said that he trusts the U.S. legal system even as he called the case against his father tainted by what he...

Living in Costa Rica: The Experiences That Make It Feel Like Home

The Costa Rica checklist. For the average visitor, it reads something like: Volcano, cloud forest, rain forest, beach, waterfall, coffee tour, etc. Think of...

Costa Rica Cracks Down on Taxes for Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals

There is a law that came into effect October 2019 which aims to oversee tourist rental services such as: homes, apartments, villas, chalets, bungalows,...
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica