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Houston Matters

Former Astronaut Leland Melvin Talks Football and STEM Education

Leland Melvin has an impressive resume: astronaut, engineer, football player and TV host. He’s flown on two space shuttle missions, was drafted by the Detroit Lions, and hosted a show on the Lifetime network called Child Genius. But he might be best known for his 2009 NASA portrait, where he appeared in his orange space […]

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In his official NASA portrait, astronaut Leland Melvin included his beloved dogs, Jake and Scout.

Leland Melvin has an impressive resume: astronaut, engineer, football player and TV host. He's flown on two space shuttle missions, was drafted by the Detroit Lions, and hosted a show on the Lifetime network called Child Genius.

But he might be best known for his 2009 NASA portrait, where he appeared in his orange space suit with his two dogs – Jake and Scout. Melvin joins us to discuss his varied careers and his efforts to promote STEM education.

Former astronaut and NFL draftee Leland Melvin at the Houston Matters studios on Jan. 31, 2017.