Astronaut/Cosmonaut - Dr.
Jerry Linenger
Imagine living for five months off the planet. Isolated, cramped, and speaking only in Russian. Fighting the worst fire ever to occur in space. Tumbling out of control inside a power-dead space station Mir in utter blackness with the oxygen running low. Space-walking. Riding in the Russian Soyez capsule. Launching atop a fireball of seven million pounds of thrust and traveling at 18,000 miles per hour.
Dr. Jerry Linenger, retired U.S. Navy Captain and NASA Astronaut whose mission aboard the Russian space station was one of the most dramatic and dangerous in space history, will deliver the first John Paul Hammerschmidt Lecture at North Arkansas College in Harrison. He will speak Saturday, September 11, 1999, at 7 p.m. in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Business and Conference Center on Northark's South Campus.
Author of Off the Planet, Dr. Linenger is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds two doctorates (M.D. & Ph.D.), two master's degrees (policy, management), and was declared by People as the year's "Sexiest Explorer." A triathlete, he was selected from over 2,000 qualified applicants to begin NASA astronaut training. He was the first person in his astronaut class of 24 to complete training and fly in space. He flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery for a 10-day mission in September of 1994.
Following that successful flight, Dr. Linenger was chosen to start training in Star City, Russia, he launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in January 1997 for the Russian space station Mir. Dr. Linenger's experiences aboard Mir led to television broadcasts and made front-page newspaper headlines throughout the world.
During his presentation at North Arkansas College, Dr. Linenger will talk about his experiences as an astronaut, his challenges aboard the space station Mir, and the value of preparation, determination, and teamwork. The lecture, which will be held in the bottom floor conference center of the JPH building, will be open to the public free of charge.