鈥檚 path to a career at NASA is unconventional to say the least. As a teenager he got a scholarship to play football at the University of Richmond and later signed as a wide receiver to the Detroit Lions. He never played during the regular season due to an injury, but he did not lose energy to pursue his passions.
Once he became interested in being an astronaut, he was told he would never make it to space because of a freak accident that left him temporarily deaf. But he was undeterred. Now retired, Melvin has penned a memoir that takes him from the football field into space. In 鈥溾�� (Amistad/2017) he writes not only of his grit, but the perseverance he witnessed from those around him.
Melvin joins host Frank Stasio to discuss his book, his passion for teaching STEM and STEAM and his hopes to inspire the next generation of African-American astronauts. Melvin was invited to the Triangle by the Circle of Hope Foundation and is scheduled for several signings, including a public meet and greet at the from 2 p.m to 3:40 p.m. Melvin is at at 7 p.m. for a book signing. He will be at NC State's at 6 p.m.
Note: This program originally aired April 11, 2018.
