I Wish We had More Former Pro Football Players Like Him!

[KennyFlys]

Football player turns astronaut... he makes any football star look like tarnished glitter.

From the 50-Yard Line to Low-Earth Orbit
When Leland Melvin's Football Career Ended, His Space Journey Began

In 1988, Leland Melvin was at training camp for the Dallas Cowboys, running to catch a pass from Danny White under the watchful eye of coach Tom Landry, when he felt his hamstring give out.

Astronauts arrive in Florida for shuttle launch

It was the end of his football career, but the start of his career as an astronaut. He launches Thursday as a mission specialist as part of a multinational crew of seven flying on Space Shuttle Atlantis in STS 122, an important mission in the assembly sequence to finish building the International Space Station.

What a life to live!

 

[ScottM]

That tells us something about how people feel about the space program that here is a person who second choice was astronaut. Remember when ti would have been the first choice of just about everyone?

 

[KennyFlys]

That tells us something about how people feel about the space program that here is a person who second choice was astronaut. Remember when ti would have been the first choice of just about everyone?

I saw an interview with him last night. It wasn't something he had ever believed he was up to par for and considered. His masters is in materials science and a friend had suggested NASA was seeking materials science engineers. He applied and went to work for the non-destructive testing lab.

It was only after returning for a graduate degree and several several years with other accomplishments with NASA did he actually move into training for a flight position.

It wasn't his goal but rather an opportunity that came along and he was "lucky" to be there. What's "luck"? Luck is best defined as "opportunity met with preparation."