Nationality American Name Serena Aunon Status Active Role Astronaut | Selection 2009 NASA Group Space agency NASA Missions None Other occupation Flight surgeon | |
 | ||
Born April 9, 1976 (age 48)
Indianapolis, Indiana ( 1976-04-09 ) Education George Washington University Similar People Kathleen Rubins, Jeanette J Epps, Luca Parmitano Profiles | ||
Astronaut Moment: Serena Auñón-Chancellor
Serena Maria Auñón-Chancellor (M.D., M.P.H.) (born April 9, 1976 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American physician, engineer, and NASA astronaut.
Contents
Education
Auñón-Chancellor holds a B.S in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University, a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, Texas (2001), and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in 2006.
Medical career
Auñón-Chancellor was hired by NASA as a flight surgeon and spent over nine months in Russia supporting medical operations for International Space Station astronauts. She served as the deputy crew surgeon for STS-127 and Expedition 22. She also serves as the deputy lead for Orion – Medical Operations.
She received the 2009 Julian E. Ward Memorial Award from the Aerospace Medical Association for her contributions to spaceflight crewmember clinical care.
NASA career
Auñón-Chancellor was selected as an astronaut candidate in June 2009. She completed the astronaut candidacy training program in 2011. In June 2012, Auñón piloted a DeepWorker 2000 submersible as part of the NASA/NOAA NEEMO 16 underwater exploration mission off Key Largo, Florida.
In July 2015, Auñón-Chancellor participated as an aquanaut in the NEEMO 20 crew.
Personal life
Auñón-Chancellor married to physicist, Jeff Chancellor and has a step daughter named Serafina Chancellor. They currently live in League City, Texas. Auñón's father is Dr. Jorge Auñón, a Cuban exile who arrived in the United States in 1960. Her mother is Ms. Margaret Auñón.