Born in Costa Rica, Chang-Díaz's journey to NASA reads like a script from a motivational movie, complete with a young boy dreaming of the stars and growing up to ride rockets. With seven Space Shuttle missions under his belt, he's tied for the record of most spaceflights, a testament to his enduring passion and resilience.

But Chang-Díaz isn't just about setting records; he's also looking to revolutionise space travel with his work on plasma rocket technology, potentially cutting the travel time to Mars down to a matter of weeks. His vision extends beyond mere exploration, aiming to make the cosmos accessible to future generations of Earthlings. Franklin Chang-Díaz exemplifies the spirit of discovery, proving that with enough drive (and a bit of plasma), the stars are within our reach.