Mike Mullane
As a veteran of the earliest flights of the American Space Shuttle program, Mike Mullane has seen the world from a perspective that few people have ever experienced directly but that inspires a deep sense of wonder in all of us. Mullane shares his experiences with audiences both young and old in his hallmark multi-media presentation, “Stories from Space.” A prolific writer and speaker since his retirement from the space program in 1990, his contributions range from the popular, fact-filled “Do Your Ears Pop in Space?” to the award winning children’s book, “Liftoff! An Astronaut’s Dream.”
Mike Mullane’s informative and often humorous descriptions of the astronaut’s life from a very personal point of view inspire people’s sense of wonder. He invites us to hold on to our dreams, even if that’s all they can ever be.
As a professional speaker, Colonel Mullane has thrilled tens of thousands of adults and a half-million children with his inspirational, motivational and humorous descriptions of the astronaut experience.
PROGRAM TITLES
- Countdown To Teamwork
- Countdown To Safety
- The Lighter Side of Spaceflight
Full Biography
Colonel Mullane was born September 10, 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas but spent much of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he currently resides. Upon his graduation from West Point in 1967, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. As a Weapon Systems Operator aboard RF-4C Phantom aircraft, he completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam. He holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Mullane was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery (STS- 41D) and Atlantis (STS-27 & 36) before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990.
Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal.
Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children’s book, Liftoff! An Astronaut’s Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space? His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Jon Stewart Daily Show. It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble’s 2010 recommended summer reading list.
Mullane has held a lifelong passion for hiking and summited Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, on July 23, 2010.
Colonel Mullane has established himself as an acclaimed professional speaker on the topics of teamwork, leadership and safety. He has educated, entertained, inspired and thrilled tens of thousands of people from every walk of business and government with his incredibly unique programs.
