BUCKiT® #19-Leland Melvin: Former NFL Player Turned Astronaut

At the NASA neutral buoyancy lab, a former NFL player turned Astronaut, jumps into the pool to start his descent. At 25 feet he knows something is wrong. Pressure and pain begin to build up, forcing him to end his dive. His team quickly pulls him to safety only to discover blood pouring from his ear. Doctors are talking, but there is no sound. He has gone completely deaf and his dream of going into space, shattered. Leland Melvin is the only person in history to catch a pass in the National Football League, and in space. The road to fame was a very long one, riddled with setbacks and an injury which left him deaf in one ear. This former professional football player, persevered and became a mission specialist aboard the shuttle Atlantis, and working on the International Space Station. In a world where instant gratification is the norm, this is a story about perseverance, loyalty and sticking with your goals. This is Leland Melvin’s incredible story.