Astronaut-Alumnus Leland Melvin Assigned to Fall 2007 Space Shuttle Mission
July 20, 2006
Leland Melvin, Class of 1986 chemistry major, has been named to the crew of an upcoming NASA Space Shuttle mission, STS-122.
The former Spider football star and NFL draftee joined the astronaut corps in 1998 and is scheduled to fly as a mission specialist on the shuttle sometime in fall 2007. Current plans for the mission include delivering the European Space Agency’s Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station.
Melvin is an expert in robotics and will be responsible for working the shuttle’s robotic arms to deliver and attach Columbus to the space station.
Bill Myers, Richmond chemistry professor, recalled that Melvin was an exceptional student and person.
“I have been hoping for this moment for Leland for several years now,” Myers said. “He is one of our best, a student who took what we were able to give him in his education and made the most of it. I'll be proud of him when he flies, but no more proud than the day I heard the excitement in his voice as he told me of his year of work with the NASA Education Office, going into inner city schools in cities across the country, inspiring kids to dream their dreams.”