#36 Author Mike Massimino, "Spaceman,"

The Not Old - Better Show

Paul Vogelzang

Society & Culture, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 106 Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2016

⏱️ 5 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Not Old Better Show Interview series, Author Mike Massimino, "Spaceman," at Smithsonian

As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is Astronaut Mike Massimino. Mike Massimino has authored the recent book, "Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe."

Massimino, a 6-foot-3, blue-collar kid from Long Island with poor eyesight and a fear of heights is not what you'd call a surefire bet for the space program. But Mike Massimino is no ordinary guy. He was an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and is the veteran of two NASA space flights: STS-109, aboard space shuttle Columbia in March 2002, and STS-125, aboard space shuttle Atlantis in May 2009. His final mission was to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009.

Massimino talks about preparing for life in space, and some of his interesting moments on this planet and far above it. The nerdy science of TV's Big Bang Theory (where Mike played himself on several episodes) is worlds away from breathtaking adventures in outer space, where the immensity of the universe alters perceptions of reality. He tells a compelling story about following a dream and what having the "right stuff" really means—at NASA, in space, and in life. Give a listen to today's show, featuring a very interesting subject, and told by a very interesting person with great science, passion and experience!

Enjoy.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	T minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8 inches start, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, and 1, 3, 2, 1, and liftoff of Space Shuttle Coa to broaden our view of the universe through the
0:16.8	Hubble Space Telescope. Hi everybody this is Paul Vogel-Zang host of the not-old better show.
0:29.0	As many of you know the not-old Better Show has a wonderful partnership with the Smithsonian Associates
0:35.4	program to feature their programs, their experts, their authors, the world leaders, and many others who are invited by the Smithsonian to share their experiences and expertise.
0:49.0	You've just heard the launch of the space shuttle, STS 125, on board was Mike Massimino.
1:03.0	Last Thursday night, I was thrilled to be included by the Smithsonian at the reception and book signing for author, astronaut, engineer, and professor Mike Massimino.
1:16.0	Mike Massimino has written a new book, Space Man, an astronaut's unlikely journey to unlock
1:22.3	the secrets of the universe.
1:25.0	Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find yourself strapped to a giant rocket
1:31.0	that's about to go from zero to 17,500 miles an hour, or to look back on the Earth
1:38.8	from outer space and see the surprisingly precise line between day and night or to stand in front of the Hubble
1:48.6	telescope wondering if the emergency repair you're about to make will inadvertently ruin humankind's chance to unlock the universe's secrets,
1:59.0	Mike Masamino has been there, and in the book, book Space Man he puts you inside the suit with all the
2:07.1	zip and buoyancy of life in microgravity Massimino's childhood space dreams were born the day Neil Armstrong set foot on the
2:16.8	moon.
2:18.1	But his journey to realizing those dreams was as unlikely as it is captivating. Growing up in a working
2:26.8	class Long Island family, Massimino catapulted himself to Columbia and then MIT only to flunk his qualifying exams and be
2:36.6	rejected twice by NASA before making it to the final round of astronauts and selection where he was told his poor eyesight
2:46.3	meant he'd never make the cut.
2:49.2	It took him four times.
2:51.5	But even that couldn't stop him from finally earning his wings, making the jump, to training in
2:58.0	T38 Air Force jets and preparing his body and soul for the journey to the Cosmos,
	...

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