151. Mike Foreman: From Navy Pilot to NASA Astronaut

(00:00:00) 151. Mike Foreman: From Navy Pilot to NASA Astronaut (00:00:12) Meet Mike Foreman (00:02:53) Navy Pilot to NASA (00:03:38) Three Applications Later (00:06:35) Life in NASA (00:08:25) How Astronauts Train (00:10:46) First Spacewalk Nerves (00:11:32) Earth View Effect (00:12:22) Spacesuit Fit Scare (00:15:52) Spacewalk Work and Fatigue (00:18:03) Returning to Gravity (00:21:13) Life After Space (00:22:06) Fame and Being Ordinary (00:23:49) How Many Astronauts (00:24:55) Mars and Artemis Future (00:26:44) Why Explore Mars (00:29:57) Closing Stories and Goodbye What does it take to leave Earth behind and step into space? Sue Stockdale speaks with former NASA astronaut Mike Foreman, whose remarkable career took him from flying helicopters in the U.S. Navy to completing two Space Shuttle missions and multiple spacewalks aboard the International Space Station. Mike shares the persistence required to become an astronaut after eight applications to NASA, the realities of astronaut training, and the physical and mental demands of working in space. He reflects on his first spacewalk, the awe-inspiring view of Earth from orbit, and the challenges of returning to gravity after living beyond our planet. The conversation also explores the future of human space exploration, including the Artemis programme and the possibility of missions to Mars, as well as Mike's thoughts on why exploration continues to matter. In this episode: Mike's journey from Navy pilot to NASA astronaut The astronaut selection process and lessons in persistence Training for life and work in space The experience of conducting spacewalks Viewing Earth from orbit Life after NASA The future of lunar and Mars exploration Whether you're fascinated by space, leadership, resilience, or human potential, Mike's story offers a compelling insight into what can be achieved through determination, curiosity and a willingness to venture into the unknown. About Mike Foreman Mike Foreman is a former NASA astronaut, retired U.S. Navy Captain, and aerospace engineer whose career has taken him from the cockpit of military aircraft and into space. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, he accumulated more than 7,500 flight hours across over 50 different aircraft types. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1998, Mike spent more than 637 hours in space during two Space Shuttle missions, STS-123 and STS-129. He completed five spacewalks, totalling over 32 hours, helping to construct and maintain the International Space Station. Today, he shares lessons from his extraordinary experiences as a speaker and serves as the Mayor of Friendswood, Texas. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support. Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Read our Impact Report and if you would like to support us then Buy Me A Coffee Host: Sue Stockdale  Producer: Sue Stockdale   Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra  This episode includes AI-generated content.