http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/tracy-d-caldwell http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

March 2016

Tracy Caldwell Dyson

(Ph.D.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Tracy Caldwell Dyson was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998. The California native has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and 

is a veteran of two space flights. Dr. Caldwell Dyson has designed, constructed and implemented electronics and 

hardware associated with for the study of atmospheric gas phase chemistry, and has developed and presented 

numerous papers on methods of chemical ionization for the spectral interpretation of trace compounds. In 2007, 

Caldwell Dyson flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on STS-118, where she served as a Mission Specialist. In 2010, 

she served as Flight Engineer for Expedition 23/24. She has logged more than 188 days in space, including over 22 hours 

in three spacewalks.

Personal Data:

Born in Arcadia, California. Married to George Dyson IV. Caldwell Dyson enjoys sports, hiking, and auto 

repair/maintenance. She competed in intercollegiate track and field at California State University, Fullerton (CSU 

Fullerton), as both a sprinter and long jumper.

Education:

Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from CSU Fullerton, 1993 and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the 

University of California at Davis, (UC Davis) 1997.

Experience:

As an undergraduate researcher at CSU Fullerton, Caldwell Dyson designed, constructed and implemented electronics 

and hardware associated with a laser-ionization, time-of-flight mass spectrometer for studying atmospherically relevant 

gas phase chemistry. During that time she also worked as an electrician/inside wireman for her father’s electrical 

contracting company doing commercial and light industrial construction. At UC Davis, Caldwell Dyson taught general 

chemistry laboratory and began her graduate research. Her dissertation work focused on investigating molecular level 

surface reactivity and kinetics of metal surfaces using electron spectroscopy, laser desorption, and Fourier transform 

mass spectrometry techniques. She also designed and built peripheral components for a variable temperature, ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy system. In 1997, she received the Camille and Henry Drefus Postdoctoral 

Fellowship in environmental science to study atmospheric chemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine). 

There, she investigated reactivity and kinetics of atmospherically relevant systems using atmospheric pressure ionization 

mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopies. In addition, she developed 

methods of chemical ionization for spectral interpretation of trace compounds. Caldwell Dyson has published and 

presented her work in numerous papers at technical conferences and in scientific journals. She is a private pilot and 

conversational in American Sign Language (ASL) and Russian.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/tracy-d-caldwell http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts

Tracy Caldwell Dyson

NASA Experience:

Selected as an astronaut by NASA in June 1998, Caldwell Dyson reported for training in August. In 1999, she was first 

assigned to the Astronaut Office International Space Station Operations branch as a Russian crusader, participating in 

the testing and integration of Russian hardware and software products developed for the International Space Station 

(ISS). In 2000, she was assigned prime crew support astronaut for Expedition 5 to the space station, serving as their 

representative on technical and operational issues throughout the training and in-orbit phase of their mission. Caldwell 

Dyson has worked inside the Mission Control Center as spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for both space shuttle and 

space station operations, serving also as the lead CAPCOM for ISS Increment 11. Other technical assignments included 

flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) and supporting shuttle launch and 

landing operations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Upon returning from her station mission, Caldwell Dyson 

established and led a large, multidisciplinary troubleshooting team focused on improving stowage and cargo transfer 

processes aboard the ISS. During her two flights, Caldwell Dyson logged over 188 days in space, including more than 22 

hours in three spacewalks.

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-118 (August 8, 2007 through 21, 2007). This mission was the 119th space shuttle flight, the 22nd flight to the space 

station, and the 20th flight for Endeavour. During the mission, the crew successfully added truss segment S5 and a new 

gyroscope. As a mission specialist, Caldwell Dyson assisted in flight deck operations on ascent and also aided in 

rendezvous/docking operations with the ISS. Caldwell Dyson operated Endeavour’s robotic arm to maneuver the 

Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) and handover the S5 truss segment to the space station, and served as the 

intravehicular (IV) crew member, directing the four spacewalks. Traveling 5.3 million miles in space, the STS-118 mission 

was completed in 12 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes and 34 seconds.

Expedition 23/24 (April 2 through September 25, 2010). Caldwell Dyson launched aboard a Soyuz TMA 18 crew capsule 

on April 2, 2010, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, docking with the space station two days later to join the 

Expedition 23 crew. For the next 174 days, Caldwell Dyson lived and worked aboard the station as a Flight Engineer for 

both Expeditions 23 and 24. She performed three successful contingency spacewalks to remove and replace the failed 

pump module on the station, logging 22 hours and 49 minutes of spacewalk time. The Expedition 24 crew landed in 

central Kazakhstan on September 25, 2010. In completing this long duration mission, Caldwell Dyson logged a total of 

176 days in space.

Awards/Honors:

NASA Space Flight Medal, 2007, 2010; NASA Distinguished Service Medal, 2010; NASA Go the Extra Mile (GEM) Award, 

2001; NASA Superior Accomplishment Award, 2000; Outstanding Doctoral Student Award in Chemistry from UC Davis, 

1997; Patricia Roberts Harris Graduate Fellowship in Chemistry, 1993-1997; Lyle Wallace Award for Service to the 

Department of Chemistry, CSU Fullerton, 1993; National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates 

Award, 1992. Council of Building & Construction Trades Scholarship, 1991-1992; Big West Scholar Athlete, 1989-1991.