085 | Two Funny Astronauts with Mike Massimino and Garrett Reisman
Mike Massimino is a former NASA astronaut, professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University, and the Senior Advisor for Space Programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. Selected as an astronaut in 1996, Mike is the veteran of two space flights—the fourth and fifth Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions in 2002 and 2009. He is the recipient of two NASA Space Flight Medals—the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the American Astronaut Society’s Flight Achievement Award. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Technology & Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he also received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. He is the author of Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe and Spaceman: The True Story of a Young Boy’s Journey to Becoming an Astronaut.
Garrett Reisman is a former NASA astronaut and professor of astronautical engineering at USC’s Viterbi School. Garrett was selected as a mission specialist astronaut in 1998 and was aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2008, a mission that dropped him off for a 95-day stay aboard the International Space Station. His second mission was aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2010, during which he performed three spacewalks and operated the Space Station Robot Arm as a flight engineer. In 2011, Garrett left NASA and joined SpaceX, serving in multiple roles, including Director of Space Operations. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Together, Mike and Garrett are the creators of 2 Funny Astronauts, a podcast where they explore the bizarre, crazy, and astonishing lives of astronauts.
Mike and Garrett join me today to describe their lives as astronauts. They discuss how they became interested in spaceflight, their educational experiences at MIT and Caltech, and their paths to becoming selected as NASA astronauts. They share their thoughts on NASA’s astronaut selection program and why having interpersonal skills is necessary for an aspiring astronaut. They recount their appearances on TV and their lives after NASA. They also highlight the importance of being surrounded by like-minded people and underscore the value of representation.
“Don’t think they’re looking for somebody who’s not you. If you try to be somebody else, it’s going to come off as artificial and it’s not going to work.”
- Garrett Reisman
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● The life of the young Garett Reisman and his journey to becoming an astronaut
● How the moon landing got Mike Massimino interested in spaceflight
● Their experiences studying at MIT and Caltech and their career path to joining NASA’s space program
● Mike and Garrett’s secret sauce to passing the NASA astronaut selection program
● Mike’s appearance on The Big Bang Theory and Garett’s show with American comedian, Stephen Colbert
● What being the first Jewish crewmember of the ISS meant for Garrett
● Moving beyond being an astronaut, Garrett’s move to SpaceX, and Mike’s life after NASA
● What it was like to be a part of the first group of women in space
● The value of authenticity and the importance of representation
● My journey through foreign languages, STEM, and becoming a NASA astronaut
● Why Mike and Garrett created the 2 Funny Astronauts podcast
Our Favorite Quotes:
● “It’s good to be surrounded by like-minded people. It doesn’t seem as crazy, and you get to share information and dreams with each other—that’s what was helpful at MIT.” - Mike Massimino
● “Everybody on paper is qualified to become an astronaut—in the end, it’s more like picking people you’d want to go on a camping trip with rather than a job interview.” - Garrett Reisman
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Mike Massimino:
Connect with Garrett Reisman:
● Garrett Reisman on Instagram
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.
I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.
In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.
Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.