I attended a Banners lecture at McNeese State University given by former NASA astronaut Story Musgrave. This 77-year-old man has led one of the most fascinating lives I think I have ever encountered. Born in Stockbridge MA in 1935, he was raised on a farm and grew up loving nature. Too bored with school to get his high school diploma, he instead joined the marines and went to Korea as an aircraft mechanic. For someone who couldn't be bothered with high school, Story has earned graduate degrees in math, computers, chemistry, medicine, literature, and psychology. In addition to being an astronaut for over 30 years, he is also a trauma surgeon! From a maintenance standpoint, from its inception, the Hubble Telescope was Story's baby. He repaired Hubble on a spacewalk. He is the only astronaut to have flown on all five space shuttles. Musgrave is also a poet, artist, photographer, pilot, parachutist, speaker, husband, and father to seven children, including a five-year-old daughter named Story.
Mr. Musgrave is a humorous inspiring speaker. He encouraged those in the audience to be passionate about the things they do and focus and work hard on the things they are good at, rather than waste time trying to improve on the things they are not good at. Learn more about Story on his website here.
There's a biography about this man called Story -- The Way of Water, by Anne Lenehan. I'm eager to find a copy.
Mr. Musgrave is a humorous inspiring speaker. He encouraged those in the audience to be passionate about the things they do and focus and work hard on the things they are good at, rather than waste time trying to improve on the things they are not good at. Learn more about Story on his website here.
There's a biography about this man called Story -- The Way of Water, by Anne Lenehan. I'm eager to find a copy.
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3 comments:
Sounds like a truly amazing man. I miss some of the Banners lectures. Miss you.
Hi Angie,
I've just come across this post from earlier this year, and wanted to share in your enthusiasm for all things Story Musgrave!
I was blessed to have Story write the Foreword for my most recent book, the 3 volume "Spaceflight: A Historical Encyclopedia," and I have also been privileged to hear him speak. He is truly a Renaissance man, and a warm and kindly human being as well, with a terrific sense of humor.
Recently I had the chance to incorporate a small portion of his life story into my video series, "Five Minutes in Space," (available on YouTube), when I did an episode on the STS-6 shuttle flight, in which Story & Don Peterson performed the first spacewalk of the shuttle era.
I'm so glad you posted this item about Story, since it has the additional benefit of having led me to your wonderful blog. I have not traveled much in a looong while, and reading through some of your posts is a refreshing reminder of how many terrific places are out there just waiting to be visited! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
All best,
Pat Walsh
Dear Pat,
I'm so glad you found my blog and appreciated my post on Story! Yes, I was so impressed with that man, I had to write about him. Well, welcome to my blog. I will check out yours, as well.
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