Former Astronaut Signs Books, Gives Talk at Library

Former NASA astronaut Thomas Jones, who once spent 53 days living in outer space, came to Oakton Library on Tuesday to speak about his career with America's space agency.

Born in Baltimore and currently residing in Northern Virginia, Jones’ storied career includes four NASA space exploration missions, during which he helped to install the Destiny laboratory onto the International Space Station.

Jones spoke of the upcoming space shuttle mission via the spaceship Endeavor, which will be the second to last mission before the 30-year shuttle program is shut down.

Jones will be at today’s launch in Florida, along with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who will be in attendance to see her husband Mark Kelly command the shuttle.

“She’s going to be there with the other shuttle families just like my family has been there six times for countdown,” Jones said.

The launch is scheduled for 3:47 p.m. today.

Before signing and selling copies of his book “Planetology,” Jones captivated the audience with his detailed descriptions of his outer space missions. The event was organized by the Friends of Oakton Library.

“My very last space walk, I asked Houston to leave me out there for just five minutes and let me soak up the scene,” Jones said. “Tears came to my eyes with the beauty of the scene, you feel very small when you get to see what God has spread out before you up there. You feel humbled.”

The four-time NASA flight medal winner has written three books. He is also a member of the NASA Advisory Committee, has worked for the CIA and piloted B-52 bomber planes in the Air Force Academy prior to earning a doctorate degree in planetary science from the University of Arizona.

“We’re at a pivotal point in the space program right now for the nation’s future in space in the 21st century,” Jones said.

He spoke of how citizens should write their congressman about the lack of funding for NASA’s space shuttle exploration program, and of how incredible it was to look out into the open universe while leading spacewalks during his missions.

According to Jones, the only space exploration available to Americans after they shut down NASA’s program will be via Russian-controlled space travel. He closed his speech with candid remarks about the future of space exploration.

“2035, that’s about the time, if we do our homework right, when we’ll be ready to go to Mars and discover whether there was ever life there. It’s going to take human explorers and robots to find the answer out.”

For more information about Jones and his life’s work with NASA, check out his website by clicking here.