Third graders had an experience this morning that was out of this world! They spoke with former astronaut and Central DeWitt graduate David Hilmers through a video call. Students learned all about being in space as well as things about Dr. Hilmers including that one of his favorite foods to eat while in space was shrimp cocktail. He also shared that it was a tradition for astronauts to take a sandwich with them on each flight.
Hilmers flew on several missions including the first flight of Atlantis in 1985 and the 1988 mission which was the first flight to follow the Challenger tragedy. He logged over 493 hours in space. During his 12 years with NASA, he also worked as a capsule communicator, helped develop and test space suits, developed flight software and more.
Hilmers was selected as an astronaut in 1980 but before that he attended Cornell College and served in the Marine Corps becoming a colonel and earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering. After retiring from NASA and the Marin Corps in 1992, he went to medical school and became a doctor which had always been his dream. Dr. Hilmers has five degrees making him the second most educated astronaut in history. And, this is a very abbreviated version of the incredible work Dr. Hilmers has done in his lifetime and continues to do today.
What an inspiring story to share with our students! Thank you, Dr. Hilmers, for answering all of our students’ questions (and staying up late since it was 11:15 p.m. in Sydney, Australia where he currently lives)! You are truly a hero and we are beyond proud to call you a fellow SABER!
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