Retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott launched this year’s Indian River Chapter of Military Officers Association of America luncheon Speaker Series, held recently at the Vero Beach Yacht Club.
“Let’s put Nicole’s space experience in perspective,” said Terry Treat, MOAA vice president, providing some background information by way of introduction.
He noted that just 562 people have flown missions in space since Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin first orbited the earth in 1961.
“That is one in 14 million of the world’s current population of 7.8 billion,” said Treat. “The first woman in space was Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963, who at age 26 remains the youngest woman in space. Since then, 64 more women, to include Nicole, have ventured into space. That’s roughly one in 120 million in the world or the entire population of Japan.”
Stott is a veteran of two International Space Station expeditions and three space shuttle missions, including a 6.5-hour spacewalk during one of those missions. She was also a member of a six-person crew that spent 18 days in the Aquarius Undersea Research Habitat, testing equipment and techniques for future lunar operations. Stott flew space missions between 2009 to 2011, retiring from NASA in 2015 after 27 years of service.
During the luncheon, Stott shared stories of her experience as an astronaut, commenting on photographs taken throughout her career, which began as a NASA operations engineer. She credited her parents for inspiring her to fly by sharing what they enjoyed doing, specifically her father’s love of building and flying small airplanes.
Scott said she wrote her recently released book, “Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission to Protect It,” to emphasize the need to combat climate change.
“I came home with three very simple lessons. We live on a planet. We are all earthlings. The only border that matters is that thin blue line of atmosphere that blankets and protects us all.
There’s not a day that goes by that those three things aren’t swirling around in my head for whatever decision I’m making,” said Stott.
“The International Space Station, in one form or another, has been on orbit for over 20 years with representatives from five international space agencies, representing 15 different countries, and somehow they are peacefully and successfully working on this mission in space. Ultimately, everything about it has to do with improving life on earth. We should be living like crew here on spaceship earth as well.”
While in space, Stott painted a watercolor image that is now on display in the Humans in Space exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Back on planet earth, she now devotes much of her time to sharing her space flight experiences with children in pediatric cancer centers and refugee centers around the world, through space-themed art therapy programs.
As a co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation, Stott said one of their current projects involves creating a spacesuit decorated with kids’ art.
Following the luncheon, several MOAA members gathered to toast the placement of a World War I monument on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary that will be officially dedicated during the Veterans Day Ceremony there, beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11.
The bronze statue is of a WWI “Dixie Doughboy” that the MOAA members are fondly referring to as “Alex,” honoring Alex MacWilliam Sr., for his military service and his role in the creation of the peaceful island sanctuary to honor our veterans.
Carroll Oates, MOAA president, said the Doughboy stands proudly, “Springfield rifle fixed with bayonet leading the charge. We’re very proud of this. MOAA has planted a flag on the island by getting that done.”
MOAA is a nonprofit organization open to current, former and retired officers from all service branches, their spouses, and surviving spouses. Members meet monthly in season and also participate in community events.
For more information, visit moaafl.org/Chapters/IRCMOAA.
Photos provided
