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:

Guy Gardner began his career as an Air Force fighter pilot, including one tour flying F-4s in the Viet Nam war. He then served as an instructor fighter pilot, test pilot and instructor test pilot.  He was selected by NASA as a Pilot Astronaut in 1980, where he worked in many areas of space shuttle and space station development and support. His two flights in space were as pilot of Space Shuttle missions STS-27, launching a DoD satellite, and STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 astronomy laboratory.

Guy then served in several government leadership positions including Head of the USAF Test Pilot School, NASA Program Director of the joint U.S./Russian space flight program Shuttle-Mir, Director of the FAA Technical Center, and FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety.

Since then Guy has served in several roles including high school mathematics and physics teacher, risk management consultant, and Purdue University research manager and teacher. He more recently served as head of Riverside Military Academy, a boarding school for boys in grades 7-12, and as President of the Williamson College of the Trades, known for instilling good character and work ethic along with trade skills in young men from lower income families.

Guy earned a Bachelor of Science with majors in Astronautics, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, and a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Tech.