Astronaut Appearances

NASA selects astronauts from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds, from scientists to pilots. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen to be a member of the elite NASA Astronaut Corps. Each day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visitors get the rare opportunity to meet a veteran NASA astronaut.

Meet the Astronaut of the Day at any of the following opportunities.  See the Daily Schedule for the times for each when you arrive.

• The daily Astronaut Encounter briefings allow time for a presentation from the astronaut and a question-and-answer session, so be prepared to ask him or her what you have always wanted to know.
• Visitors can also get an astronaut’s autograph at The Space Shop and Shuttle Express at various times during the day.
• During the all-new Chat With An Astronaut, enjoy a sampling of food and beverages while having a group conversation with the Astronaut of the Day about what it is really like to live and work in space. This new add-on enhancement requires daily admission.

Astronaut Bio:

Winston Scott is a former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain. Scott entered Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School after graduation from Florida State University in December 1972 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1974. He served as a production test pilot flying the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair aircraft. Scott has accumulated more than 5,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft, and more than 200 shipboard landings.

Scott was selected by NASA and reported to the Johnson Space Center in 1992. He logged 24 days, 14 hours, and 34 minutes as a mission specialist in space during his two missions STS-72 Endeavour and STS-87 Columbia. Scott performed three spacewalks totaling 19 hours and 26 minutes.

STS-72 Endeavour launched January 11, 1996 and retrieved two satellites while in orbit. Scott completed his first spacewalk, or EVA, lasting 6 hours and 53 minutes. His goal was to evaluate techniques utilized in the assembly of the International Space Station.

STS-87 Columbia was Scott’s longest mission and the fourth U.S. Microgravity Payload flight. They launched November 19, 1997, and conducted several experiments such as the effects of zero gravity on physical functions of the human body. He performed two more spacewalks on this mission which included manually capturing the Spartan satellite and testing EVA tools and procedures.

In addition to being a naval aviator and an astronaut, Winston Scott is a musician and has a second degree black belt in Shotokan karate. He graduated from Florida State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music and also has a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. In July 2005, Scott published the book, “Reflections From Earth Orbit.” Scott currently resides in Melbourne, Florida and is the Senior Vice President for External Relations and Economic Development at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). He plays the trumpet for the Winston Scott Cosmic Jazz Ensemble, and directs a faculty band at FIT which they call “TWITCHY” after the initials of each band member.