NASA astronaut Dr. Kjell N. Lindgren will visit Taiwan April 21–25 as part of the U.S. Freedom 250 Initiative, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, according to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
Dr. Lindgren was born in Taipei on January 23, 1973, to a Taiwanese mother and an American father who was serving in the U.S. Air Force. He spent much of his childhood in the United Kingdom before returning to the United States for his higher education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in Mandarin Chinese from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995, followed by a doctorate in medicine from the University of Colorado.
A two-mission ISS veteran, Dr. Lindgren has accumulated 311 days in space. During Expedition 67 in 2022, the crew conducted over 100 experiments spanning fiber optic cable production, fluid dynamics, and human immune cell function. He also holds the distinction of being the first astronaut to play the Great Highland Bagpipes in space.
His visit, organized through the State Department's Speaker Program, follows the successful completion of the Artemis II mission. AIT said the trip aims to advance technology partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Dr. Lindgren's itinerary spans five cities: meetings with government officials and startup leaders in Taipei; visits to the Taiwan Space Agency and National Central University in Hsinchu and Taoyuan; a stop at the National Library of Public Information in Taichung; engagements with National Cheng Kung University's space science programs in Tainan; and a concluding public lecture at the Taipei Astronomical Museum.
Dr. Lindgren currently serves as Deputy Director of the Flight Operations Directorate at Johnson Space Center, overseeing a workforce of 2,400 engineers, flight controllers, instructors, aviators, flight directors, and astronauts.
（Related：
Taiwan dethrones China atop Japan's tourist spending chart
｜
Latest
）
