Ever wondered how childhood dreams can transform into a journey that reaches the extraordinary frontier of space? Join us today as we uncover the captivating story of former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao.

From his upbringing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, young Leroy was passionate about the mysteries of the cosmos and deeply influenced by the space race and the monumental Apollo 11 moon landing. Chiao's path to becoming an astronaut was marked by unwavering perseverance and a profound passion for aerospace.

Navigating through NASA's rigorous selection process, Chiao's dedication and technical skills drove him toward achieving his childhood dream.  During his impressive career at NASA, he not only lived through the amazing experiences of space, like floating in zero gravity and the excitement of spacewalks but also made important contributions to our knowledge of space exploration.

Beyond his time at NASA, Chiao has embraced new horizons in entrepreneurship, motivational speaking, and education. His experiences have inspired him to encourage others to pursue their dreams with determination, emphasizing the importance of seizing the boundless opportunities that life presents.

Join us as we discover Leroy Chiao's incredible journey, where childhood dreams meet the challenges and victories of exploring space.

In this episode: 

(00:00) Astronaut's journey

(05:32) Application to NASA

(11:23) First mission and space shuttle launch

(18:00) Weightlessness and adaptation to microgravity

(20:01) First space mission

(24:30) Spacewalk experiences

(33:01) Transition from NASA

(34:58) Post-NASA endeavors

(38:51) Figure out what you want to do

(39:35) Assessment of abilities

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About Our Guest

Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander. He is co-founder and CEO of OneOrbit, providing keynotes and training to companies and schools, and holds an appointment at Baylor College of Medicine. He advises the Houston Association for Space and Science Education and has held leadership roles in commercial ventures and NASA. A veteran of four space missions, Dr. Chiao logged over 229 days in space, including 36 hours of spacewalks. Fluent in Mandarin and Russian, he has worked closely with international space agencies. Dr. Chiao holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara and is a fellow of the Explorers Club and a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Leroy Chiao

• Leroy Chiao- LinkedIn
• Leroy Chiao- Facebook
•  Leroy Chiao– Website

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