NASA: It’s not just a cat anymore. (AKA – BPAS Interview with an Astronaut)
HARO members are the best, best, best people in the world. Dayna Steele, is a HARO member who one day advertised her new book on HARO. She emailed me after the ad ran, thanking me for the great results – and she asked, “So Peter, why is one of your cats named NASA?” To which I answered, “Well, I sorta like the space agency.” “Oh.” She said.
Two days later, I was invited by her to visit when I was in Houston – And by visit, I mean hang out with her extended family – ALL NASA ASTRONAUTS, PILOTS, AND OMG OMG ZOMG!
So guess who got to go to NASA today, behind the scenes in Building 9A? Here’s me on the Space Shuttle Flight Deck mock-up.
Yes. Insane.
Best part? I WAS GIVEN THE TOUR BY AN ACTUAL ASTRONAUT!! Dr. Nick Patrick, who’s going up on STS130 next January, was honestly, the nicest guy EVER. He took time out of his training schedule to give me an amazing tour, and do an INTERVIEW with me! Check it out!
More photos soon. Truly an amazing day.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I had tears in my eyes watching this because I knew how much this meant to you! Your joy was infectious! Thanks for sharing!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Very cool! Check that off the life list!
Several years ago, I was lucky enough to get a behind the scenes tour of Cape Canaveral by an actual astronaut! I still remember how moved I was at how proud he is to be an American.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Peter – What an exciting opportunity for you! Really enjoyed the great discussion on the learning value of mistakes and the importance of training to avoid them.
It was particularly fun that at times when you were talking, the camera movement made it seem like the shuttle might actually be in flight!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Too cool…special experiences happen to special people. Looked like you had a great time.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
It is truly amazing to witness someone’s dream come true. Thank you for sharing yours.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Great speech at ISES today! When you said NASA tour – I was praying (a Jewish prayer) that you were getting a VIP tour – otherwise…for the typical tourist – not so great! Thanks for the HARO, social media tips (and videos)!
January 7th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Thank you for being curious/interested you Peter. Thanks even more for sharing your “good fortune” with others.
Know too that you do a good interview.
Did you actually get a sandwich out of this too?
January 7th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Peter, so excellent. I had a shit-eating grin on my face the whole time.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:24 am
You (continue) to rock and show us all what is possible thanks to karma (and NASA!)
January 8th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Way to go, Peter! It’s only right that you reap from what you sow by taking all of us “behind the scenes” with HARO. High five.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:54 am
This is AWESOME!!! I think my favourite is the description of the sunrise. WOW!
H.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:59 am
I am so jealous but you are so deserving. Thank you for sharing with us
Next stop ….. interview from the shuttle IN SPACE Go for it Peter!
January 8th, 2009 at 5:23 am
So you think he would invite his father to tag along. Selfish,selfish
January 8th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Outstanding! What a great opportunity and interview thanks for sharing.
Blue Skies
January 8th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Dr. Nick Patrick absolutely rocks! What a great interview and humble fellow–just like you, Peter.
Next time you’re in Dayton, I’ll take you to the U.S. Air Force Museum–you can tour President Kennedy’s plane, see great old warbirds and history that will give you the chills!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:06 am
And all I did was buy you a sandwich. Wow … it’s gonna be hard to get much better than this. Glad you had such a blast.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:24 am
What a great memory to carry with you always. I happy for you that you were able to do this!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Peter, you get to do the COOLEST things! Thank you for sharing your very special experience with the rest of us, and thanks to Dayna Steele for making it happen for not only you, but for the rest of us as well. What a great way to start my day!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Oh! I grew up in NASA, my Dad was the chief engineer for the first moon shot. Very very cool for you, Peter!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I bet he didn’t even have to BPAS! What a thrill. Thank you for sharing this with us.
January 8th, 2009 at 7:05 am
How exciting for you… and for your readers, as your excitement was palpable!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Peter, that is awesome, thanks for sharing (and Dayna’s book looks very interesting). When STS130 is ready to launch, take a quick trip down to Orlando and drive east for an hour to Cocoa Beach or KSC to watch the shuttle launch… It never gets old living here on the Space Coast. Cheers!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Fantastic Peter! Have to say I’m jealous, but it’s great to get to live vicariously through your video!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Now that’s the way to have it — exactly as you want it! Your excitement is infectious — keep going for what you love and sharing with us! Heard you were awesome at ISES…thanks for sharing with Houston!!!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Way to go. What a great experience and now you owe your cat big-time treats.
Thanks for all you do for HARO – it’s been a great help.
January 8th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Peter:
If you are ever asked to GO on a real shuttle launch, would you do it?
January 8th, 2009 at 8:01 am
That was THE coolest thing Peter! Thanks for sharing that. Your line of questioning reminded me of poor Gus Grissom.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I’m SO happy for you, Peter. I know how much this meant to you. How fantastic.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Wow, great – thanks for sharing. I had the opportunity to have dinner (me and 50 other folks) with Frank Borman a few years back and got to see him perform in a heritage flight at an air show the next day. I will never forget the experience. Thanks for taking us on your ride.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:27 am
That’s it. You have the coolest job ever. Hands down. Well, OK, you do spend a lot of time in airports, but still….NASA!!
January 8th, 2009 at 8:36 am
What a great video – thank you for sharing your exciting visit with the rest of us. I was cracking up every time you were literally salivating over the shuttle mock-up, the astronaut, etc.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:12 am
This was very cool. I wish I lived closer so that I could look into getting a tour for my 9year old son who is Autistic. He would love it.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:32 am
So cool! I share a similar thrill – got to interview several of the original Mercury 7 astronauts at the annual Aviation Hall of Fame banquet when I was a TV reporter in Dayton back in the 1980s. You MUST take up Janice Rice and visit the Air Force museum at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton. They’ve got just about every plane ever flown. Sooooo cool!.
Maybe next summer, after your speaking gig at the PRSA Sunshine District Conference in Jacksonville, you can drive down and spend a day at Kennedy Space Center – some really awesome stuff there, too.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Your sheer excitement made me grin, and Dr. Patrick’s description of seeing a sunrise from space moved me to tears. What a phenomenal experience — thank you for sharing it with us.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Sheesh…my cousin is a NASA engineer and I never got a behind the scenes tour. Her specialty is toilet bolts! hah! Who cares about getting a sandwich…that had to be the experience of a lifetime.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Amazing! What a wonderful experience.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Congrats to you Peter! It was obvious how much this meant to you. Good things happen to good people.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Okay, I think I want your job! More good stuff, Peter!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I wonder if Nick has beat the Little Prince’s record of seeing 44 sunsets in one day!
January 8th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
That’s so amazing. Dayna is a really cool lady-she sent me her book after I posted a HARO query for MY book, and I’ve gotten quite a bit out of it. She has some great stories. And now you have yet another one! You’re building a pretty awesome family, Peter.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:00 am
go you!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
OMG that is totally cool. A hospital nurse once told me that her previous patient had been Danielle Steel and confirmed that she is a great person. She also said her husband stayed with her 24/7. No wonder she writes romance novels!
January 10th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Thank you for sharing Peter. When I read your email about going to NASA, I thought that was so coool. I appreciate that it is a rare opportunity those few that get to tour an operation that has contributed many inventions (like Tang and the space blankets people receive at the end of running a marathon) people use everyday.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
At findingDulcinea, we did an interview with Dayna Steele earlier this year; it is one of my favorite pieces we’ve done because she has had such an interesting life and a great outlook on it. According to it, you have David Crosby (of CS&N) to thank for her connection to NASA:
http://www.findingdulcinea.com.....teele.html
January 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
[...] friend Peter, who is a fan of NASA, recently had an opportunity to visit the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Peter is a hardcore Twitter user* , so it’s not surprising that, following his visit, [...]
January 14th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I could almost see the sun raise, beautiful. Awesome interview – his advise and your questions were great! thanx
January 14th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I could almost see the sun raise, beautiful. Awesome interview – his advise and your questions were great. thanx
January 16th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Best gig I ever had was flacking for a former shuttle commander for 6 mo. I am still retelling his stories. Guy was f’ing Captain America
January 19th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Peter…that picture makes me so insanely freakin’ jealous, I can’t see straight.