Chasing Space [Young Readers' Edition]

“A story of passion and perseverance told by a humble hero. Insightful and inspiring!” – Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“In Chasing Space, Leland Melvin, the former NASA astronaut, shares this remarkable trajectory of his life. En route he tackles stupendous obstacles with dogged determination, showing you what is indeed possible in life–if you believe.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History and New York Times Bestselling author of Welcome to the Universe

“He shows us how he made the best of every opportunity and every setback on his way from his hometown to outer space. It moves fast; once you get started you’ll want to join the chase.” – Bill Nye, CEO, The Planetary Society

“It reminded me of how small the planet really is, and therefore, how insignificant our differences as humans are-the kind of issues that kept my own legacy at NASA hidden for so long. Chasing Space is a must read–a flight you shouldn’t miss.” – Katherine Johnson, former NASA physicist and mathematician, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

“Henry Ford said, ‘If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.’ Leland Melvin proves it. His story inspires me and reminds me of the value of staying positive and pushing through adversity. Chasing Space is uplifting and motivating.” – Simon Sinek, the “Unshakable Optimist” and author of Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last

“I’m happy to be able to call Leland a friend and looking forward to many more years of learning with him. And now he will take you, too, on a journey.” – Pharrell Williams

“A heartfelt offering for fans of inspiring memoirs, sports lovers, or those interested in the STEM fields.” – School Library Journal

Leland Melvin, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, is an engineer and NASA astronaut. He served on the space shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist and was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010. He also served as the cochair on the White House’s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force, developing the nation’s five-year STEM education plan. He is the host of the Lifetime show Child Genius and a judge for ABC’s BattleBots. He holds four honorary doctorates and has received the NFL Player Association Award of Excellence. He lives in Lynchburg, Virginia.