http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

September 2023

Tracy C. Dyson

(Ph.D.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Tracy C. 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. Dyson has designed, constructed and implemented electronics and hardware 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, 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. Dyson launched to the International 

Space Station on March 23, 2024, as a flight engineer on the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft. Dyson will spend six months 

aboard the station as an Expedition 71 flight engineer, conducting science experiments and maintaining the space 

station. This is her second long-duration spaceflight and third mission overall.

Personal Data:

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

anything requiring power tools. She competed in intercollegiate track and field at California State University, Fullerton 

(CSUF), as both a sprinter and long jumper as well as a member of both women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams.

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, 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, 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, ultra-high 

vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy system. In 1997, she received the Camille and Henry Dreyfus 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. 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 C. Dyson

NASA Experience:

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

the Astronaut Office International Space Station (ISS) Operations branch as a Russian Crusader, participating in the 

testing and integration of Russian hardware and software products developed for the 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 on-orbit phase of their mission. Dyson has since held multiple roles 

within the Astronaut Office, working inside Houston’s Mission Control Center (MCC-H) as spacecraft communicator 

(CAPCOM) for both space shuttle and space station operations, serving as lead CAPCOM for various ISS missions, 

including the lead and development of the CAPCOM cadre for Boeing Starliner Mission Operations team. Other technical 

assignments have 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 

first long-duration mission, Dyson initiated and led several projects to improve training and operations aboard the ISS, 

most notably developing the EVA Qualification training flow (EVQ) for Astronaut Candidates. Dyson also served as the 

on-camera host for NASA’s TV series “StationLife,” spanning over 10 episodes and 5 years of replay, a program dedicated 

to highlighting science and technology driven by the work aboard ISS. During her two flights, Dyson logged over 188 days 

in space, including more than 22 hours in three spacewalks. Dyson launched to the space station on March 23, 2024, as a 

flight engineer on the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft. She will spend six months aboard the station as an Expedition 71 flight 

engineer, conducting science experiments and maintaining the space station. This is her second long-duration 

spaceflight and third mission overall.

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, Dyson assisted in flight deck operations on ascent and also aided in 

rendezvous/docking operations with the ISS. 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 all 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). 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, 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, 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.