Retired NASA Astronaut shares perspective with Colorado Springs Community
Bradley Davis
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A retired NASA Astronaut who flew on two ISS space missions will meet with the community at the Space Foundation Discovery Center on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
“Gravity is such a drag, I don’t know why we put up with it!” retired NASA Astronaut Dominic “Tony” Antonelli said.
Antonelli will spend his week traveling around to different schools in the Colorado Springs School District 11, speaking with the students. The event on Wednesday at the Discovery Center is free for the public.
“We need creative smart folks, and they exist all over the place. We just need to make sure they know we need them and encourage them and support them,” Antonelli said. “If they are going to help make the world a better place in the future, we all should be helping them do that.”
“It’s such an important thing for me to hear,” said Space Foundation Director of outside programs Alex Grab. “That’s my whole mission. That’s the mission at Space Foundation: to bring STEM education and passion for STEM to every kind of student.”
It’s part of the Discovery Center’s “Space in the Community” initiative. Mentors from the aerospace company and NASA contractor L3Harris will join Antonelli on Wednesday. The event focuses on the discoveries of the James Webb Telescope.
Antonelli has spent over 24 days in space during his career as an astronaut. He said he feels an obligation to give back in his retirement by traveling around as an educator.
I’ve incurred a debt by being lucky enough to fly in space. You have to give it back,” Antonelli said.
Along with spreading STEM, Antonelli said he hopes he can help people realize the greater picture he discovered while orbiting the planet.
“I’m surprised we don’t treat each other more neighborly,” Antonelli said. You realize [Earth] is where everyone is from. Everyone you’ve ever met. We are all neighbors. We are all crewmates on this little spaceship together.”