Houston Matters

Astronaut Discusses Helping His Kids Deal with Him Being Away for Long Periods

In the first in a series of discussions with Houston parents whose jobs can take them away from their kids, we hear from former astronaut Kenneth Cockrell about the challenges of being a parent working in space during the height of the Shuttle program. Cockrell was born in Austin, but considers his home Rockdale, a […]

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In the first in a series of discussions with Houston parents whose jobs can take them away from their kids, we hear from former astronaut Kenneth Cockrell about the challenges of being a parent working in space during the height of the Shuttle program.

Cockrell was born in Austin, but considers his home Rockdale, a town about 40 miles outside of College Station. He became an astronaut in 1991 and is a veteran of five spaceflights.

He spoke with Houston Matters’ Edel Howlin about what it meant to be a parent during that time, beginning with how he became an astronaut and a dad at the same time.

SHARE YOUR STORY: Are you or someone you know away from your family for long periods because of a job? Share your story at talk@houstonmatters.org.

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Michael Hagerty

Michael Hagerty

Senior Producer, Houston Matters

Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. He's spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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