NASA Spotlight: Astronaut Mike Hopkins
Michael S. Hopkins was selected by NASA as an astronaut in 2009.Ā The Missouri native is currently the Crew-1 mission commander for NASAās next SpaceX launch to the International Space Station on Nov. 14, 2020. Hopkinās Crew-1 mission will mark the first-ever crew rotation flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts on board, and it secures the U.S.ās ability to launch humans into space from American soil once again.Ā
Previously, Hopkins was member of the Expedition 37/38 crew and has logged 166 days in space. During his stay aboard the station, he conducted two spacewalks totaling 12 hours and 58 minutes to change out a degraded pump module. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering.Ā
He took some time from being a NASA astronaut to answer questions about his life and career! Enjoy:
What do you hope people think about when you launch?
I hope people are thinking about the fact that weāre starting a new era in human spaceflight. Weāre re-opening human launch capability to U.S. soil again, but itās not just that. Weāre opening low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station with commercial companies. Itās a lot different than what weāve done in the past. I hope people realize this isnāt just another launch ā this is something a lot bigger. Hopefully itās setting the stage, one of those first steps to getting us to the Moon and on to Mars.
You served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight test engineer. What does that entail?
First off, just like being an astronaut, it involves a lot of training when you first get started. I went to the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and spent a year in training and just learning how to be a flight test engineer. It was one of the most challenging years Iāve ever had, but also one of the more rewarding years. What it means afterwards is, you are basically testing new vehicles or new systems that are going on aircraft. You are testing them before they get handed over to the operational fleet and squadrons. You want to make sure that these capabilities are safe, and that they meet requirements. As a flight test engineer, I would help design the test. I would then get the opportunity to go and fly and execute the test and collect the data, then do the analysis, then write the final reports and give those conclusions on whether this particular vehicle or system was ready to go.
What is one piece of life advice you wish somebody had told you when you were younger?Ā
A common theme for me is to just have patience. Enjoy the ride along the way. I think I tend to be pretty high intensity on things and looking back, I think things happen when theyāre supposed to happen, and sometimes that doesnāt necessarily agree with when you think it should happen. So for me, someone saying, āJust be patient Mike, itās all going to happen when itās supposed to,ā would be really good advice.
Is there a particular science experiment you enjoyed working on the most while aboard the space station?
Thereās a lot of experiments I had the opportunity to participate in, but the ones in particular I liked were ones where I got to interact directly with the folks that designed the experiment. One thing I enjoyed was a fluid experiment called Capillary Flow Experiment, or CFE. I got to work directly with the principal investigators on the ground as I executed that experiment. What made it nice was getting to hear their excitement as you were letting them know what was happening in real time and getting to hear their voices as they got excited about the results. Itās just a lot of fun.
Space is a risky business. Why do it?
I think most of us when we think about whatever it is we do, we donāt think of it in those terms. Space is risky, yes, but thereās a lot of other risky jobs out there. Whether itās in the military, farming, jobs that involve heavy machinery or dangerous equipmentā¦ thereās all kinds of jobs that entail risk. Why do it? You do it because it appeals to you. You do it because itās what gets you excited. It just feels right. We all have to go through a point in our lives where we figure out what we want to do and what we want to be. Sometimes we have to make decisions based on factors that maybe wouldnāt lead you down that choice if you had everything that you wanted, but in this particular case for me, itās exactly where I want to be. From a risk standpoint, I donāt think of it in those terms.
Can you describe your crew mate Soichi Noguchi in one sentence?
There are many facets to Soichi Noguchi. Iām thinking about the movie Shrek. He has many layers! Heās very talented. Heās very well-thought. Heās very funny. Heās very caring. Heās very sensitive to other peopleās needs and desires. Heās a dedicated family man. I could go on and on and onā¦ so maybe like an onion ā full of layers!
I love them both. But can I say Firefly? Thereās a TV series out there called Firefly. It lasted one season ā kind of a space cowboy-type show. They did have a movie, Serenity, that was made as well. But anyway, I love both Star Wars and Star Trek. Weāve really enjoyed The Mandalorian. I mean who doesnāt love Baby Yoda right? Itās all fun.
How many times did you apply to be an astronaut? Did you learn anything on your last attempt?Ā
I tried four times over the course of 13 years. My first three attempts, I didnāt even have references checked or interviews or anything. Remember what we talked about earlier, about patience? For my fourth attempt, the fact is, it happened when it was supposed to happen. I didnāt realize it at the time. I would have loved to have been picked on my first attempt like anybody would think, but at the same time, because I didnāt get picked right away, my family had some amazing experiences throughout my Air Force career. That includes living in Canada, living overseas in Italy, and having an opportunity to work at the Pentagon. All of those helped shape me and grow my experience in ways that I think helped me be a better astronaut.
Can you share your favorite photo or video that you took in space?
One of my favorite pictures was a picture inside the station at night when all of the lights were out. You can see the glow of all of the little LEDs and computers and things that stay on even when you turn off the overhead lights. You see this glow on station. Itās really one of my favorite times because the picture doesnāt capture it all. I wish you could hear it as well. I like to think of the station in some sense as being alive. Itās at that time of night when everybody else is in their crew quarters in bed and the lights are out that you feel it. You feel the rhythm, you feel the heartbeat of the station, you see it in the glow of those lights ā that heartbeat is whatās keeping you alive while youāre up there. That picture goes a small way of trying to capture that, but I think itās a special time from up there.
What personal items did you decide to pack for launch and why?Ā
My wedding bands. Iām also taking up pilot wings for my son. He wants to be a pilot so if he succeeds with that, Iāll be able to give him his pilot wings. Last time, I took one of the Purple Hearts of a very close friend. He was a Marine in World War II who earned it after his service in the Pacific.
Thank you for your time, Mike, and good luck on your historic mission! Get to know a bit more about Mike and his Crew-1 crew mates Victor Glover, Soichi Noguchi, and Shannon Walker in the video above.
Watch LIVE launch coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 14 HERE.Ā
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