This Week in Space (Audio) TWiS 182: The Dream is Alive - With NASA Astronaut Terry Hart
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Oct 17, 2025 
Join former NASA astronaut Terry Hart, an aerospace pioneer and educator, as he recounts his incredible journey from Air Force pilot to the first shuttle rendezvous with the Solar Max satellite. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from filming the IMAX feature 'The Dream is Alive', discusses the evolution of on-orbit servicing, and reflects on the safety culture in human spaceflight. He also talks about the exciting new aerospace program at Lehigh University, his thoughts on NASA's shift toward commercial space, and the potential future of missions with Orion.
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Full-Circle Career From Lehigh To NASA And Back
- Terry Hart traced his career from Lehigh to Bell Labs, MIT, the Air Force, NASA, corporate leadership, and academia in sequence.
- He emphasized being in the right place at the right time and returning to Lehigh to teach after industry and NASA roles.
Shooting IMAX In Weightlessness
- STS-41C was the first shuttle crew to fly IMAX and they trained closely with Graham Ferguson's team.
- The heavy 70mm IMAX camera spun up on trigger and required feet stabilization to avoid blurred footage.
Solar Max Rescue And LDEF Deployment
- STS-41C deployed the Long Duration Exposure Facility and attempted to retrieve the stuck Solar Max satellite.
- After failed docking attempts and a tumble, Goddard used BDOT to detumble Solar Max and the crew ultimately grappled it with the RMS for on-orbit servicing.