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}Rodolfo Neri Vela, Ph.D., (born 19 February 1952) is a NASA payload specialist. He was the first Mexican astronaut to fly in space.Born in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. Single. No Children. Enjoys jogging, cycling, swimming, reading, cinema, theatre, and music.Received a bachelor's degree in mechanical and electronic engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) 1975; studied the master's program in science, specialized in telecommunications systems, 1975-1976, University of Essex, UK; received a doctoral degree in electromagnetic radiation, University of Birmingham, UK, 1979; and one year of postdoctoral research in waveguides, University of Birmingham, UK.The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, USA; The Institution of Electrical Engineers, UK; Asociación Mexicana de Ingenieros en Comunicaciones Eléctricas y Electrónicas, Mexico; and Colegio de Ingenieros Mecánicos y Electricistas, Mexico.
Neri Vela has worked at the Institute of Electrical Research, Mexico, in the Radiocommunications Group, doing research and system planning on antenna theory and design, satellite communications systems, and Earth station technology.Rodolfo Neri flew on the crew of STS-61-B Atlantis (November 26 to December 3, 1985). STS-61B launched at night from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the mission the crew deployed the MORELOS-B, AUSSATT II, and SATCOM K-2 communications satellites, conducted 2 six-hour spacewalks to demonstrate space station construction techniques with the EASE/ACCESS experiments, operated the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis (CRFES) experiment for McDonell Douglas and a Getaway Special (GAS) container for Telesat, Canada, conducted several Mexican Payload Specialists Experiments for the Mexican government, and tested the Orbiter Experiments Digital Autopilot (OEX DAP). At mission conclusion, Neri Vela had traveled 2.4 million miles (3.8 million km) in 108 Earth orbits and logged over 165 hours in space.* NASA biography page (original source for this article)
*Rodolfo Neri Vela, International Space Hall of Fame inductee
*Spacefacts biography of Rodolfo Neri Vela
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