First University of Richmond Spider in Space

First UR Spider in Space*

University of Richmond alumnus and NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, R’86, is set to become the first Spider in space tomorrow afternoon. Melvin and the rest of the NASA crew are scheduled to blast off aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 4:31 p.m. (EST)

A number of University representatives and friends of Leland, including several of his former UR football teammates, will be at Cape Canaveral for the event. Leland is taking with him on the mission several University of Richmond items, including a banner, hat and football, which he will then donate to the University upon his return. NASA is expected to broadcast videos of Leland at various points during the flight.

The University will be hosting a campus countdown celebration in honor of Leland’s blast-off on Thursday, Dec. 6, beginning at 4 p.m. (EST). Students, faculty, staff, and local alumni are invited to watch the launch on campus from the Pier in Tyler Haynes Commons.

Please note that the actual launch time is subject to change. For the latest official information on the launch, visit: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main.

For more information about Leland, visit: oncampus.richmond.edu/news/nov07/Melvin.html.

*I graduated from U of R in '87 so I remember Leland Melvin quite well--he was a star on the football team back then, and now he's an astronaut!

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