{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"286: Eyes to the Stars with Dr. Steve Hawley, NASA Shuttle Astronaut","description":"What does it take to go from studying the universe\u2026 to flying through it? On this episode of Casual Space, Beth welcomes Dr. Steven A. Hawley\u2014NASA astronaut, space shuttle veteran, and author of his new book, Eyes to the Stars, A Memoir for the Space Shuttle Generation. Listen to enjoy the remarkable journey of a young astronomer from Kansas who never expected to become an astronaut\u2014and what happened when he said \u201cyes\u201d anyway. Steve shares the quiet but powerful decisions that shaped his career: staying open to opportunity, embracing uncertainty, and trusting preparation when timing finally aligned. From his early fascination with astronomy to deploying the Hubble Space Telescope, this conversation reveals what spaceflight is really like\u2014both technically and personally. You\u2019ll hear behind-the-scenes insights from the Space Shuttle era, including the realities of astronaut selection, the discipline of mission training, and the teamwork required to operate in one of the most high-risk environments humans have ever entered. Resources & Links Eyes to the Stars by Steve Hawley on Amazon: https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Eyes-Stars-Memoir-Shuttle-Generation\/dp\/1960259571  Hubble Space Telescope https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/   Artemis Program https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/  Whether you\u2019re an aspiring astronaut, a space enthusiast, or someone navigating your own uncertain path\u2014this episode is a reminder that the journey to the stars often begins with simply staying open to possibility.   ","author_name":"Casual Space","author_url":"http:\/\/casualspace.libsyn.com\/website","html":"