A NASA astronaut with ties to Northern California, Tracy C. Dyson, has concluded her six-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS). Speaking live from the ISS, Dyson, originally from Arcadia and a UC Davis chemistry doctorate graduate from 1997, shared her excitement about returning home after serving as the Expedition 71 flight engineer, marking her third space mission. Her previous experiences include being a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 2007 and a flight engineer for Expedition 23/24 in 2010.

When asked about her upcoming return to Earth after spending 184 days in space, Dyson expressed her thrill in reuniting with her family. Reflecting on her time in space, she emphasized the wonder of observing Earth from the microgravity laboratory, describing it as a miraculous sight against the backdrop of the vast universe. Despite the demanding schedule of astronauts, Dyson highlighted the profound impact of witnessing our planet from such a perspective.

Dyson's journey to becoming an astronaut was marked by a diverse range of experiences, including a background in track and field during her undergraduate studies at Cal State Fullerton and pilot training during her time at UC Davis. Following her post-doc studies at UC Irvine, she joined NASA's astronaut training program. Throughout her recent mission, Dyson conducted experiments on stem cell research and fire safety, focusing on their applications for spacecraft and spacesuit design and operations. She expressed fascination with projects involving stem cells and 3-D printing for tissue replication, envisioning their potential benefits for medical advancements in remote environments like space.