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.
She was 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.
Tracy 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.