Original Story Published by: Susan Segar for University of Cape Town News
Photo Source: ©Michael Hammond/University of Cape Town News
(Above) Major General Charles Bolden, the US Science Envoy for Space, regales the audience with anecdotes about NASA and other aspects of his career.
As one of the world’s pioneers of space exploration, Major General Charles Bolden was fully prepared on a technical level for virtually any eventuality when he first travelled in the Space Shuttle Columbia in the 1980s.
What took him by surprise were the emotions he felt viewing the world from the vast distance of the shuttle – especially when he saw Africa, the continent of his ancestors.
“The first time I cried in space, I cried a lot,” the charismatic Bolden told a large audience during a public lecture at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on 13 November.
Bolden, who is the United States (US) Science Envoy for Space, was hosted by the US Mission to South Africa. During his visit, he met high school and university students, as well as faculty, aerospace professionals and the general public, with the aim of promoting space exploration and highlighting the wide range of possibilities offered through the study of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy who was a marine aviator and test pilot before becoming a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut, Bolden also served as a US Marine Corps major general. He was the first African American to serve as administrator of NASA, from 2009 to 2017.
Through the Science Envoy Program, eminent American scientists and engineers make use of their expertise and networks to interact and identify opportunities for ongoing international cooperation.
During his time at NASA, Bolden oversaw the safe transition from 30 years of space shuttle missions to a new era of exploration, with the focus on full utilisation of the International Space Station and space and aeronautics technology development.
To read the full article, visit University of Cape Town News.
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