His top game was in 1984 against James Madison University, when he had 10 catches for 208 yards (190 m) and one touchdown. He is described as being one of the most inspiring and influential NASA astronauts of all time. In this position, Melvin travels throughout the U.S. engaging thousands of students and teachers in the excitement of space exploration and inspiring them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The STS-129 mission was completed in 10 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes and 13 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits, and returned to Earth bringing back with them NASA Astronaut, Nicole Stott, following her tour of duty aboard the space station.

The crew included astronauts with Russian, French, German, African American and Asian American backgrounds and was hosted by Whitson -- the first female commander of the space station, Melvin said. Upon graduating from Heritage High School in 1982, Melvin was awarded a football scholarship to attend the University of Richmond.

"We were breaking bread at 17,500 miles per hour, going around the planet every 90 minutes. Five blocks down the street from where Melvin grew up, Arthur Ashe learned how to play tennis. His recreational interests include photography, piano, reading, music, cycling, tennis, and snowboarding. STS-129 (November 16 to November 29, 2009) was the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station. Ashe, the only Black man to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open, turned pro in 1969. Leland Melvin was born in Lynchburg, Virginia to Deems and Grace Melvin. Melvin schloss 1982 die High School ab und studierte anschließend Chemie. From 1982 to 1985, Melvin was a wide receiver on the University of Richmond football team, where he became the all-time reception leader and was an Associated Press All-America selection in 1984 and 1985.

For inquiries on speaking engagements and booking Leland for your next event visit the CAA website.

He has since been assigned to the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch, and the Education Department at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. As co-manager of NASA's Educator Astronaut Program, Melvin has traveled across the country, discussing space exploration with teachers and students, and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"And you know, when Black men get into the prison system, that they really never get out and have a second chance. [13] Melvin has published two books; Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances and Chasing Space: Young Reader's Edition.[14].

Melvin ended up logging more than 565 hours in space, but space was not his first choice. 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. [12], Selected as an astronaut in June 1998, Melvin reported for training in August 1998.

He was an AP honorable mention All-America selection in 1984 and 1985 and second team Apple Academic All-America in 1985. As associate administrator, Melvin was responsible for the development and implementation of NASA's education programs that inspire interest in science and technology and raise public awareness about NASA goals and missions. "My dad talked about his perseverance his athleticism, his intelligence," Melvin said. In 1994, he was selected to lead the Vehicle Health Monitoring team for the cooperative NASA/ Lockheed Martin X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle program. Aerospace engineer Leland D. Melvin was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on February 15, 1964 to Deems and Grace Melvin. A team captain during his senior season, Melvin had his best year in 1985, with 65 catches for 956 yards (874 m) and eight TDs.

(CNN)A police stop could have cost former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin his career in space before he ever got started. During training camp, he pulled a hamstring and was released from the team in late August. See how Leland Melvin is related to other HistoryMakers, Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Leland Melvin's interview, Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Leland Melvin lists his favorites, Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Leland Melvin describes his mother's family background, Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Leland Melvin describes his mother's educational background, Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Leland Melvin describes his father's family background, Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Leland Melvin talks about his aunt, Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Leland Melvin talks about his father's upbringing, Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Leland Melvin talks about his father's service in World War II, Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Leland Melvin describes his father's educational background and involvement in sports, Tape: 1 Story: 10 - Leland Melvin talks about his father's teaching experience, Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Leland Melvin describes how his parents met, Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Leland Melvin describes his parents' personalities, Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Leland Melvin describes his family growing up, Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Leland Melvin describes his earliest childhood memories, Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Leland Melvin talks about the origin of his name, Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Leland Melvin describes his childhood neighborhood, Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Leland Melvin describes the sights, sounds and smells of growing up, Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Leland Melvin describes himself as a child, Tape: 2 Story: 9 - Leland Melvin talks about his early interest in science, space, and photography, Tape: 2 Story: 10 - Leland Melvin describes his family camping trips, Tape: 2 Story: 11 - Leland Melvin describes his early education, Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Leland Melvin describes a lesson learned on the football field, Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Leland Melvin talks about studying math in high school, Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Leland Melvin describes his decision to study chemistry at the University of Richmond, Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Leland Melvin describes his college research, Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Leland Melvin talks about being drafted by the Detroit Lions, Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Leland Melvin talks about training with the Detroit Lions, Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Leland Melvin talks about the Dallas Cowboys and the University of Virginia, Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Leland Melvin talks about his musical background, Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Leland Melvin talks about football and head trauma, Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Leland Melvin talks about his transition to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Leland Melvin describes his graduate research, Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Leland Melvin describes his work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Leland Melvin talks about becoming an astronaut, Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Leland Melvin describes his experience in Russia, Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Leland Melvin talks about the International Space Station, Tape: 5 Story: 1 - Leland Melvin talks about his hearing and his work with the Educator Astronaut Program, Tape: 5 Story: 2 - Leland Melvin describes his astronaut training, Tape: 5 Story: 3 - Leland Melvin describes his space flights - part one, Tape: 5 Story: 4 - Leland Melvin describes his space flights - part two, Tape: 5 Story: 5 - Leland Melvin talks about the effects of space travel on the body, Tape: 5 Story: 6 - Leland Melvin talks about other crew members during his space flights, Tape: 6 Story: 1 - Leland Melvin talks about what he has learned from his space flights, Tape: 6 Story: 2 - Leland Melvin describes his work in the Office of Education, Tape: 6 Story: 3 - Leland Melvin discusses his hopes and concerns for the African American community, Tape: 6 Story: 4 - Leland Melvin reflects upon his career, Tape: 6 Story: 5 - Leland Melvin talks about his aspirations to have a family, Tape: 6 Story: 6 - Leland Melvin talks about his legacy and how he would like to be remembered.