Aggie Astronaut Ready for Launch

The Eagle ^ | January 23, 2005 | Brett Nauman

[AggieCPA]

Aggie astronaut ready for launch

By BRETT NAUMAN Eagle Staff Writer

Michael Fossum had all but abandoned his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut when he entered Texas A&M University in the late 1970s.

But an unlikely decision during his first days as an Aggie sent his life on a path that eventually led him to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Now, the astronaut is poised to make his first journey into space.

Fossum, a member of A&M’s Class of 1980, is expected to board a space shuttle in July that will fly NASA’s second shuttle mission since the Columbia tragedy of Feb. 1, 2003. The first is scheduled for May.

The flight will be the greatest moment in Fossum’s career, and he says it probably never would have happened had he not joined the Corps of Cadets his first day at A&M.

“I had no intention of joining the military,” Fossum said. “But I needed a dorm room and joined the Corps. That whole decision is what got me involved in the [NASA] circle. It’s ironic.”

The Corps changed his life, Fossum said. He spent four years in the organization — commanding Squadron 3 his senior year — and joined the U.S. Air Force after graduation.........

[AggieCPA]

I hope he gets his chance and the Shuttle flies again.

[BerniesFriend]

Texas A&M is a fine university..the first President Bush has his library there..but I can't help but think of that joke about space flight..There is a science convention in Texas..The Rice delegation says they are going to send a man to Mars...The TCU delegation says they are going to send a man to Venus..the Aggies walk up and say they are going to send a man to the sun..the judges are puzzled..they ask how..the Aggies say they will go at nite..(I know it is an old joke..but still funny)..

[AggieCPA]

LOL I think all Aggie jokes are old or updated versions of old ones. Doesn't matter - I love em all.

[nuke rocketeer]

At least this one is flying on the shuttle! The last Aggie asstronaut strapped 100 bottle rockets to his butt and went into orbit when he farted!

Could not resist UT grad 1979 Hook 'em Horns! (the sign of the devil to you Norwegians)

[AggieMom x 3]

Whoop!!

[secret garden]

Whoop ping.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Is there an Aggie ping list somewheres here on FR?

[COEXERJ145]

I don't think so but there should be. We have enough Aggies on FR.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Yeah.

There's an Aggie ping list.

(But he keeps ringing my doorbell......)

[DrewsDad]

"I had no intention of joining the military,” Fossum said. “But I needed a dorm room and joined the Corps. That whole decision is what got me involved in the [NASA] circle. It’s ironic.”

The Corps changed his life, Fossum said. He spent four years in the organization — commanding Squadron 3 his senior year — and joined the U.S. Air Force after graduation.

While doing graduate work at the Air Force’s Institute of Technology, Fossum was loaned to NASA to work in mission control in support of space shuttle missions.

“Some people are born to do this,” Fossum said of being an astronaut. “Some are just led by the Lord one step at a time. As one door closes, he opens up a window. That’s what I think happened for me.”

Now he has an opportunity to walk in the "heavens".

Bet he'll find 88 stars in the sky. Gig 'Em!

[Doctor Stochastic]

They could go at night to avoid the heat. They might need a flashlight though.

They should be careful; an Aggie archer shot an arrow into the air; he missed.