Leland D. Melvin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leland D. Melvin
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Melvin in 2024
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Leland Devon Melvin
February 15, 1964 Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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23d 13h 28m |
| Selection | NASA Group 17 (1998) |
| Missions | STS-122 STS-129 |
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Mission insignia
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| College football career | |
| Richmond Spiders – No. 4 | |
| Position | Wide receiver |
| Major | Chemistry |
| Career history | |
| High school | Heritage (Lynchburg, VA)
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Leland Devon Melvin, born on February 15, 1964, is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. He flew into space on the Space Shuttle Atlantis for two missions: STS-122 and STS-129. Before becoming an astronaut, Melvin was a professional football player. He also led NASA's education programs starting in October 2010.
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About Leland Melvin
Leland Melvin was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He went to Heritage High School. He then attended the University of Richmond on a football scholarship. There, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. In 1989, he received a master's degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Virginia.
His parents, Deems and Grace, live in Lynchburg, Virginia. Leland enjoys photography, playing the piano, reading, music, cycling, tennis, and snowboarding.
Melvin has appeared on TV shows. He was a guest judge on Top Chef. He also appeared with his dogs on The Dog Whisperer and Dogs. He hosted the TV show Child Genius for two seasons.
Football Career Highlights
Melvin played as a wide receiver for the University of Richmond football team. He played from 1982 to 1985. He holds the University of Richmond's record for career receptions with 198. He also has 2,669 receiving yards. He is fourth in career touchdown receptions with 16.
He was named an All-America selection in 1984 and 1985. In 1985, he was also an Academic All-America. As a team captain in 1985, he had his best year. He made 65 catches for 956 yards and eight touchdowns. His best game was in 1984 against James Madison University. He caught 10 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown.
Melvin caught at least one pass in every game he played for the Richmond Spiders (39 games). He was inducted into the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996–97. He was also chosen for the All-UR Stadium Team in 2009. This team honors the best players at the stadium over its 81-year history.
Professional Football Attempts
The Detroit Lions picked Melvin in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL draft. He was chosen as a wide receiver. During training camp, he injured his hamstring. He was released from the team in August. In October, he joined the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts practice team.
He later joined the Dallas Cowboys the next spring. However, he injured his hamstring again. This second injury ended his professional football career.
Journey to NASA
Melvin started working at NASA's Langley Research Center in 1989. He worked in the Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Branch. His job involved using optical fiber sensors. These sensors helped measure damage and changes in metal and composite structures. In 1994, he led the Vehicle Health Monitoring team. This team was part of the NASA/Lockheed Martin X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle program. In 1996, he helped design and oversee the building of a special facility. This facility could create fiber optic sensors.
Becoming an Astronaut
Melvin was chosen as an astronaut in June 1998. He worked in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch. He also worked in the Education Department at NASA Headquarters. As a co-manager of NASA's Educator Astronaut Program, Melvin traveled a lot. He visited schools across the United States. He talked about space exploration with teachers and students. He encouraged them to study science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Later, he worked in the Robotics Branch of the Astronaut Office.
In October 2010, Melvin became the associate administrator for the Office of Education. In this role, he was in charge of NASA's education programs. His goal was to inspire interest in science and technology. He also helped people learn about NASA's goals and missions. He retired from NASA in February 2014.
Space Missions
Melvin flew two missions on the Space Shuttle Atlantis. He served as a mission specialist on STS-122 and STS-129. In total, he spent over 565 hours in space.
STS-122 Mission
STS-122 took place from February 7 to 20, 2008. It was the 24th shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The main goal was to deliver and install the European Space Agency's Columbus (ISS module) laboratory. Astronauts performed three spacewalks. They prepared the Columbus Laboratory for its science work. They also replaced a nitrogen tank on the Station's P-1 Truss.
STS-122 also swapped crew members. It brought Expedition-16 flight engineer Léopold Eyharts to the ISS. It brought Daniel Tani, another Expedition-16 flight engineer, back to Earth. The STS-122 mission lasted 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes, and 40 seconds. It traveled 5,296,832 miles in 203 orbits around Earth.
STS-129 Mission
STS-129 flew from November 16 to 29, 2009. It was the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station. During this mission, the crew delivered two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELC racks) to the ISS. These carriers held about 30,000 pounds of spare parts. These parts are vital for the station's power and cooling systems. The mission also included three spacewalks.
The STS-129 mission lasted 10 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes, and 13 seconds. It traveled 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits. STS-129 brought NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott back to Earth. She had completed her time aboard the space station.
Life After NASA
Since leaving NASA, Leland Melvin has given many talks. He shares his experiences in space and his football career. During his NASA training, he had a serious ear injury. Doctors thought he might become deaf in his left ear, but he mostly recovered.
Melvin has written two books. They are Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances and Chasing Space: Young Reader's Edition. Both were published in 2017.
In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, cooking, and walking his dogs. He has been featured in several National Geographic space documentaries. He also appeared in a 2010 episode of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. In 2021, he was in Season 2 of the Netflix series Dogs. In the show, he climbed Columbia Point with his Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Roux and Zorro.
Viral Dog Photo
In 2015, a picture of Melvin with his rescue dogs, Jake and Scout, became very popular online. The photo was taken in 2009. Melvin had secretly brought the dogs into the Johnson Space Center for his photoshoot. He recalled bringing them in his van and sneaking them into Studio 8. He asked the photographer, Robert Markowitz, to take pictures quickly. The dogs were showing him affection in the photo. This picture was later used on the cover of Melvin's autobiography, Chasing Space. Sadly, Scout and Jake passed away in 2012 and 2013.
Images for kids
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Leland Melvin and Pharrell Williams present a montage to Quincy Jones.
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Melvin on the NASA Glenn Research Center float during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival Timken Grand Parade.
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Melvin, center, blasts off a rocket for young participants at a 'Build the Future' event sponsored by LEGO at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex.
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Melvin (center) with STS-129 crew members boarding the astrovan
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Leland Melvin inside the US lab
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Leland with his crewmates in the Destiny lab during STS-122
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STS-129 crew commander, Robert Satcher and Leland Melvin in Node 2 of the International Space Station
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STS-129 crew members in Node 1
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Leland floating inside the Airlock.
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Floating water. Barry E. Wilmore photobombing.
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Working on Robotic equipment in the US lab
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Melvin inside the JEM
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Inside the Zvezda Service Module during STS-122
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Melvin (upper left), Robert Satcher (upper right) and Nicole Stott form a crew photo circle in Node 2 during STS-129
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Shuttle training
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STS-129 docking welcome event
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Melvin presents Arlene and Joel Levine with the National Alliance of Black School Educators Presidential Award.
See also
In Spanish: Leland D. Melvin para niños
