Behind the Wings

What Does Space Smell Like? - Episode 41


Listen Later

Former NASA astronaut Tom Jones discusses installing the first laboratory module on the International Space Station. 


Welcome to Season 5 of the Behind the Wings podcast! In this episode, hear stories about flying the B-52, working as a NASA mission specialist on four Space Shuttle missions, life in space, and what it's like to go on a spacewalk. This one is going to be cool!


Key Takeaways:

  • Tom's love of aerospace started when he took a field trip to see two Titan space rockets. Since that moment, he knew he wanted to be an astronaut.
  • Tom enrolled in the Air Force Academy and attended pilot training. There he was assigned as a pilot and commander for the B-52 Stratofortress.
  • After earning his PhD and applying for the NASA astronaut program three times, he was finally accepted in 1990.
  • As a mission specialist, Tom flew on four Space Shuttle missions, STS-59, 68, 80, and 98. He helped with several experiments and controlled the robotic arm.
  • On STS-98, Tom embarked on three EVAs, or spacewalks, to install the Destiny module onto the ISS. This was the first ISS laboratory, enabling the USA to conduct in-depth experiments.
  • Tom's newest book, Space Shuttle Stories, catalogs every Space Shuttle mission with stories from astronauts who flew on said missions.
  • Tom tells listeners that life doesn't always make it easy to achieve your goals, but there are several paths to making it possible.

Resources:

  • Tom Jones' Wiki Page 
  • Tom Jones' NASA Bio 
  • Destiny Module 
  • Tom Jones' Website 
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Behind the WingsBy Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum™

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

26 ratings


More shows like Behind the Wings

View all
Airplane Geeks Podcast by Airplane Geeks

Airplane Geeks Podcast

400 Listeners

Airline Pilot Guy - Aviation Podcast by Capt Jeff

Airline Pilot Guy - Aviation Podcast

646 Listeners

Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast by Aviation Week Network

Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

395 Listeners

Hangar Talk - An Aviation News Podcast by AOPA

Hangar Talk - An Aviation News Podcast

114 Listeners

Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News by Max Trescott | Aviation News Talk Network

Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News

778 Listeners

Fighter Pilot Podcast by E. Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, Retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot

Fighter Pilot Podcast

1,869 Listeners

Opposing Bases: Air Traffic Talk by Air Traffic Talk

Opposing Bases: Air Traffic Talk

935 Listeners

Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories by Evergreen Podcasts | The Honor Project

Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories

662 Listeners

Cold War Conversations Podcast by Ian Sanders

Cold War Conversations Podcast

461 Listeners

21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast by 21Five Podcast

21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast

343 Listeners

The Afterburn Podcast by John "Rain" Waters

The Afterburn Podcast

929 Listeners

10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit by Steve Davies

10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

173 Listeners

Ask the A&Ps by AOPA

Ask the A&Ps

286 Listeners

I Learned About Flying From That by Flying Magazine

I Learned About Flying From That

214 Listeners

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's by Sporty's Pilot Shop

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

161 Listeners