Astronaut, author, professional football player, and STEM educator Leland Melvin was born #OTD in 1964.

[mcnees@mastodon.social]

Astronaut, author, professional football player, and STEM educator Leland Melvin was born #OTD in 1964.

Here he is in the greatest photo ever produced by the US space program.

Image: NASA

[waldorf@infosec.exchange]

@mcnees I like your taste in photographs and thanks for sharing it. I had not seen it before and it's gorgeous!

[broadfork@mastodon.green]

@mcnees I’ve not seen this photograph before and it is joyous.

[dianea@lgbtqia.space]

@mcnees

Living the best life:

"In his spare time he enjoys playing the piano, cooking, and walking his two dogs.[21] He is featured in several National Geographic Space documentaries and videos,[22] including a 2010 episode of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.[23] In 2021, he featured in Season 2 of the Netflix television series Dogs, climbing Columbia Point with his Rhodesian Ridgebacks Roux and Zorro.[24]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_D._Melvin

[mike805@noc.social]

@mcnees Those are happy dogs. I want to see them floating around in the ISS.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@mike805 @mcnees

strictly scientific of course

"Effect of Tail Wagging on Weightlessness, and Canine Locomotion in 0G for Thrown Treat Retrieval"

[elmiller0330@disabled.social]

@mcnees He spoke at my college graduation! Unfortunately he didn't bring the puppies.

[mike805@noc.social]

@benroyce @mcnees I'd love to see how a cat and a dog adapted to zero G. I think they had mice or rats in a cage once, no? Did they learn to push off and fly around?

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@mike805 @mcnees

i think cats would freak out, but dogs would love it

however, "the morning walk" would not be any fun

[mike805@noc.social]

@benroyce @mcnees Yes, the potty problem is difficult even for humans in space. Too bad because it would get the whole world watching NASA if you had a pet up there.