Former NASA astronaut Tom Jones discusses installing the first laboratory module on the International Space Station.
Welcome to Season 5 of the Behind the Wings podcast! In this episode, hear stories about flying the B-52, working as a NASA mission specialist on four Space Shuttle missions, life in space, and what it's like to go on a spacewalk. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
- Tom's love of aerospace started when he took a field trip to see two Titan space rockets. Since that moment, he knew he wanted to be an astronaut.
- Tom enrolled in the Air Force Academy and attended pilot training. There he was assigned as a pilot and commander for the B-52 Stratofortress.
- After earning his PhD and applying for the NASA astronaut program three times, he was finally accepted in 1990.
- As a mission specialist, Tom flew on four Space Shuttle missions, STS-59, 68, 80, and 98. He helped with several experiments and controlled the robotic arm.
- On STS-98, Tom embarked on three EVAs, or spacewalks, to install the Destiny module onto the ISS. This was the first ISS laboratory, enabling the USA to conduct in-depth experiments.
- Tom's newest book, Space Shuttle Stories, catalogs every Space Shuttle mission with stories from astronauts who flew on said missions.
- Tom tells listeners that life doesn't always make it easy to achieve your goals, but there are several paths to making it possible.
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