Former astronaut speaks
By Jordan Funderburk, contributing writer
Posted on September 11, 2006

The journey to becoming the leading female astronaut in NASA history created a story Kathryn Thornton wished to share with students and faculty Thursday night.

Thornton participated in four space flights throughout the 1980s and 1990s during her career. Her first mission came just three years after the Challenger explosion that killed the entire crew.

“I think it’s very brave of her,” freshman Christopher Willis said. “She has the courage to actually do it for the sake of exploration.”

Her experiences left her with a feeling of anticipation and excitement for the future of exploration that she shared with the audience. “It’s hard to conceive of all the changes that are going to take place,” Thornton said. “Enormous things can change in one lifetime.”

Thornton’s speech related this century’s age of space exploration to the past ages of exploration throughout human history. She also told of her experiences in space the similarities today’s space program has to her years with NASA.

“It was really interesting to hear from someone who experienced it. It brought space closer to home,” senior Jacob Forstater said. Thornton called going from 3 G’s to weightlessness “the single most magical moment of the whole flight.”

Thornton described her missions in detail, particularly her 1993 flight for which she and her crew received the Collier trophy — the most prestigious aeronautical award in the United States. She was also sure to confirm that astronauts cannot see the Great Wall of China from space.

She also related her academic career, noting that instead of choosing the hot field of the day, she went with what she loved and pursued a PhD in physics. “Even though I had no idea what to do with it, someone has to win the lottery,” said Thornton.

Thornton and the other crew members made sure to make good use of their time in space.
“You never know if you will have a chance to get back,” Thornton said.

“[It is] absolutely amazing to do something like that with your life,” senior Nick Schroeder said.

Although Thornton feels the world has hit a lull in the age of space exploration, her hopes for the future are bright. She touched on the next step for NASA and the country’s goal to reach Mars.

“I am certain that it is going to happen, the only thing I am uncertain about is the time frame,” Thornton said. “I hope I live to see us going to Mars.”

Thornton said places to explore are non-exhaustive. She feels that any of this country’s space dreams are possible.

“As long as we have the will to do it, and I think that has been ingrained into us, then we are going to keep on moving out,” Thornton said.