Many dream about seeing the world from space and only a limited amount of people in the world actually will, including TCHS alumnus Mr. Steven Lindsey.
Mr. Lindsey is an executive director at the Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Exploration Systems, where he overlooks the design, development and testing of the orbital machine Dream Chaser. He has over 30 years of flight experience and has been on five space missions. This year, he will be returning home as Grand Marshal of the Camellia Festival.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to engage in the community again,” Lindsey said. “Temple City is where I was born and raised, its where I got my start.”
During his time at TCHS, Lindsey gravitated to the subjects of math and science. He believed that the practical application of classes like Calculus would allow him to thrive in the fields of engineering and science.
“If you’re passionate about becoming an engineer or an astronaut or anything in general, just go for it,” Lindsey said. “It’ll take a lot of hard work and schooling but remember to just enjoy the journey.”
Lindsey realized his dream of becoming an astronaut as he grew up and watched man land on the moon for the first time. Although he initially thought it was unattainable, the inspiration he gathered from his father, an aeronautical engineer, made it his primary career choice.
“I was always interested in flying planes and engineering,” Lindsey said. “After becoming an experimental test pilot, which basically combines engineering, science and piloting, I found out that I was qualified to become an astronaut.”
Lindsay received his bachelor degree in aeronautical engineering from the US Air Force Academy in 1982 and a masters of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1990. After serving as a pilot and mission commander for several STS missions in space, he officially retired from NASA in 2011. He was also recently inducted to the Astronaut Hall of Fame.