Winston E. Scott Captain, USN, Ret., NASA Astronaut
Excellence -- Above and Beyond Photo Courtesy of NASA
Extraordinary Profiles
As we have recently witnessed, an amazing era of space exploration has ended. Thirty years of Atlantis going “above and beyond” as it were – taking the world of science to new and spectacular levels has finally ended. Former astronaut, Winston E. Scott is proud to have participated in the amazing journey into space. He says that the exploration of space has made great contributions to the technology that we enjoy today. As a young child, his parents encouraged him and his sibling to become whatever they wanted to be and to be the best that they could be. Scott had a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and airplanes, so it was no surprise that he chose the path that he did. His choice to follow his passion not only led him to excel in his profession, but his contribution has added incredible value to countless lives. “What’s more important is that I have contributed something to life and to society. That part is not personal. It makes people want to contribute, to do something important for society,” said Scott. Scott graciously shared his extraordinary story of the young child who became an astronaut and helped change the world. Through groundbreaking experiments for the International Space Station, he’s performed numerous spacewalks and satellite retrievals.
In 1992 NASA selected Scott to join the space team. During his career he has served as a mission specialist on STS-72 Endeavour and STS-87, the fourth U.S. Microgravity Payload flight.
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Extraordinary Profiles
Since his extraordinary experience in space, Astronaut Scott has been consistently giving back to society in many ways. He served as the Executive Director of the Florida Space Authority and is currently the Dean of the College of Aeronautics at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Monica: You had an amazing career in aviation and aeronautics. Was it always your dream to become an astronaut or become involved in aeronautics? Photo Courtesy of NASA
Winston: Well, I was always interested in science and technology and airplanes as a kid. Like a lot of boys, I loved airplanes and movies about airplanes. I used to build model airplanes and read magazines. It was not a reality to me. When I grew up in segregated neighborhoods, we didn’t have role models. There were no black pilots or engineers in the area and there were no astronauts. I never thought it was a reality but it was always an interest of mine. Monica: Now that you have achieved success, what have you learned from your experiences? 12 | Exceptional People Magazine | July-August 2011
Extraordinary Profiles
Well, I tell you what, the lessons that I learned are the lessons that our parents tried to each us that if you set your sights on a goal and you work for it and don’t give up, you will achieve it. Parents and teachers like to tell us that you can do anything. How many people actually believe it and how many people do it? I truly believe that a person can achieve anything they want if they work hard and they never give up. I really believe it because I’ve done it. Monica: Did you have any mentors or anyone helping you at that age? Winston: No, not at all. Monica: That’s wonderful that you had the drive on your own. Winston: I had the drive on my own. I certainly did. Of course I didn’t have exposure to engineering and aeronautics. When I got to college, I was studying music. That’s what I knew when I was growing up. But my roommate majored in engineering, and I watched him. It appealed to me that that’s what I was supposed to be doing. So I talked to the counselor at the engineering school. Of course they gave me advice and I began to take math, science and engineering courses. That was something I was doing on my own.
Photo Courtesy of NASA
So you’re right, you have the drive inside you and a lot of people will fight it off. They won’t do the things they feel they would like to do or want to do. How many people tell you that I want to learn how to play the piano but … they always say “but”. Monica: Do you think it’s because it’s too much work? Winston: I think probably it is too much work. They don’t believe all that hard work will pay off for them and they’re not going to succeed. It’s too far fetched. It’s hard to know exactly what people think but you and I run into them everyday. They say, “Oh I would love to do this but…, or I would have like to do that but… I could have done this but… We always hear that “but”. I don’t believe in “but.” I believe that if I want something and it’s driving me, I need to go for it. I need to give it the best I’ve got and not give up on it. That’s the lesson we try to each all of our young people.
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Extraordinary Profiles
Monica: When you were growing up, your focus was not to become an astronaut. Was it a surprise to you when you were selected to become an astronaut, or was it something that you knew would happen?
Monica: What do you think about the space program today, as well as some of the disasters they’ve had and, of course, some of the achievements and successes? Winston: Certainly the successes and achievements outweigh the disasters. We unfortunately had two space shuttle accidents, but accidents are a part of exploration. All things worth doing involve risks. But with the space program, I think the payoff is definitely worth the risk. And I’m a little concerned with the way we’re currently going because we are not funding NASA adequately. I think we need to put more money into NASA as a leading space organization in the country at the same time that we support our smaller private space companies that are appearing on the scene.
Winston: I wasn’t totally surprised because remember I had built a career. I didn’t suddenly jump from being a nineteen year old student to an astronaut. I went into the military, I flew airplanes, I went to graduate school and I flew more airplanes. It was a gradual evolutionary process. By the time I got to the point where I applied for the space program, I knew I had a pretty good chance of being selected. In every step of the selection process my name was being advanced. So when I was selected, I was excited and elated but it wasn’t totally far-fetched. I knew I had as good a chance as anybody else. I was very confident that I would be selected.
Monica: We don't hear as much about space programs now. Winston: No, you don’t. You hear about it a lot in this area because the space program is a part of the Florida culture, but if you live in other places, you’re right you don’t hear much about it. People don’t talk about it and the politicians don’t talk about it. It’s a shame because the average person doesn't realize all the benefits we receive from the space program. Just like you and I are talking right now, you’re in Virginia, I’m driving my car in Florida, that technology comes from our space program. That’s one example.
Monica: After you were selected to become an astronaut, you served as a mission specialist. What does a mission specialist do? Winston: There are essentially two categories. You have pilot astronauts and mission specialists. Even though I was a Navy pilot, I was a Navy fighter pilot, a test pilot and my role on the shuttle was flight engineer and space walker. I was the person who put the space suit on and went outside. That was my duty as a mission specialist. I also conducted the experiments on board the shuttle. As flight engineer, I was part of the crew that flew the vehicle. I have flown the shuttle, but my specialty was space walking.
Monica: What has been most rewarding to you about being a part of the space program, something that only a very few people ever get to experience?
Monica: Are you actively flying today? Winston: Yes, I still fly. I fly regularly. I own an airplane. Though I am retired from the Navy, I don’t fly fighters, but I do fly often, including my business and personal travel.
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Photo Courtesy of NASA
Winston: There are two parts. The personal reward is the fact that I have accomplished what I have. I managed to rise to the top of my profession. There’s nothing better that you can accomplish as a pilot than fly in space. So personally I have accomplished the highest that you can accomplish in my field.
Extraordinary Profiles
What’s more important is that I have contributed something to life and to society. That part is not personal. It makes people want to contribute, to do something important for society. That’s important to me to become a part of something that is so important.
Monica: When you were growing up, going to high school and college and moving towards the particular career that you’ve had, who was your support system?
Monica: What contributions do you think you have made to the African American race?
Winston: I was a typical high school student. My parents wanted me to go to college and it was up to me as to what I majored in. My parents were very supportive of my brother, and my sister and I in getting an education. That was something they talked about all the time. So our support system was our parents.
Winston: I’d like to think that I have set a good example for the African American youth as to what they can do if they apply themselves, how they can achieve success in a particular field and how they can rise to the top of their profession. I hope I have inspired young people to do better, to do well, to get an education, to excel. That’s extremely important. I’d like to think that I have inspired African American people in that way. Monica: What do you miss most about the space program? Winston: I don’t necessarily miss not being in the program because they’re doing the same things now as when I was in it. The program hasn’t changed since I left active flying. If they were doing something different, going back to the moon and going to Mars, yes, I would like to be a part of that. Even though I’m not officially working for NASA anymore, you never leave the space program. You’re always involved. I’m at the space center often, giving presentations. I serve on boards, I give lectures. So the space program still dominates my life even though I don’t actively fly anymore. That’s the nice thing. Once you’re an astronaut, you’re always an astronaut. Monica: You have also advised elected officials on matters related to space and aeronautics. Winston: Yes. I directed the Florida Space Authority for a while and reported directly to the governor, Governor Jed Bush at that time. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with and participate on panels in Washington, D.C., and Tallahassee, Florida, and advise local government officials. Monica: What kind of legacy would you like to leave as far as your contribution to the space program? Winston: I don’t know. I really don’t think too much about that. I did the best I could and I continue to do the best that I can as a professional. I think if there’s a legacy that I would like to leave, I hope it would be a legacy that will inspire others to do something good in life, to help their fellow man. I think living a good life and trying to set an example for others is more important. That’s what I try to do. Photo Courtesy of NASA
Of course I had good teachers. Some of the best teachers I had were in our all Black segregated schools. Later on when the schools integrated I had good teachers also. My support systems were my parents, people in my neighborhood, the church, colleagues and teachers. They all were a good support system. They wanted to see us succeed, but they didn’t know anything about engineering and aerospace. They just supported you in terms of encouraging you to do the best that you could do. Monica: What happened to music? Are you still playing? Winston: I stopped playing after college. It’s like a lot of people. You play through college and then quit. I picked it up again about ten or fifteen years ago as a hobby and started playing and I still play. We have a faculty band at Florida Tech. Almost everyone is obviously an engineer or into science. Our president plays drums in the band. We limit our performance to events at the school. I play with that band and I play with a couple of other bands around town. I think it sets a good example for a lot of our students who also play music. We’re a technological university but we also have a music program. Monica: As someone who was heavily involved in aviation and aeronautics, do you think a person has to have a certain type of mindset for that type of work?
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Extraordinary Profiles
Winston: I think so. I think it’s like any other work. You have to have a mindset for it and a dedication to do it if you’re going to do well. You need a certain mindset to do well in aviation, especially military aviation and NASA. That’s not for everyone. Monica: And of course you can’t be afraid of heights. Winston: No, and you certainly can’t be afraid of flying. People who don’t like to fly, need not apply. Monica: They’re automatically eliminated. What do you enjoy most about being Dean of the College of Aeronautics at Florida Tech? Winston: I enjoy being dean because I get to work with young people and students and hopefully provide a good education and good leadership for them. But I like being dean at our college, because the college is all about what I do. It is aviation, it’s engineering, it’s aeronauticsoriented. So I’m working in the field that I enjoy and I work with young people. That’s what I enjoy most about it. Monica: Do you get the opportunity to participate in the development of any of the courses? Winston: Yes, absolutely. In fact I’m introducing some new courses in the College of Aeronautics. I get to introduce new ideas. Our university is very open to new ideas. Monica: What message do you have for young African Americans about following through on their dreams? Winston: The first part of that message would be that there are so many exciting things to do in the world if they look around, see them and take advantage of them. Too often we narrow our focus. We all want to be athletes, rappers or entertainers. We need to realize there are so many wonderful, exciting things to do for those who prepare. Once we realize that, then we need to prepare for it and we need to decide what we want to do and focus on it, work hard and never give up and we’ll be able to experience some of those great things that are available in life. That would be my message to young people. Monica: That’s certainly a wonderful message. So many things are happening in our society today. Adults 16 | Exceptional People Magazine | July-August 2011
need to step up and mentor kids who don’t have access to the information or the tools that they need to help them follow through on their dreams. Winston: That’s very true. That’s an obligation that we as adults should fulfill. We need to step up and guide our students along and expose them to certain things. We as African Americans don’t do a good job of that. I give lectures at the space center that are open to the public, and we get huge crowds but almost no Blacks. Many of the events are free; all you have to do is show up. Very few if any African Americans will show up. We still don’t expose our kids to a variety of activities. Monica: That’s true. If you expose them to those things very early on, then that will become engrained in them. Winston: That’s right. You expose them early on and then you encourage them to prepare to do those things, like getting a good education. For some reason, we don’t take advantage of all the opportunities that are available to us. Monica: I think it goes back to what you said earlier. They have a narrow focus. When they see rappers and professional ball players and they see that they make a lot of money, oftentimes, that becomes their focus. Winston: They don’t realize that the odds of them becoming a famous ball player or rapper are slim to none. Even if they become famous rappers or ball players, they need to understand how to manage their careers from a business standpoint. I’m all for sports. I played sports in high school, my son played football. I think it’s good but we seem to focus more on that than anything else -- sports and entertainment. We can get a good education. We can be teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, nurses, all excellent professions. Monica: Absolutely. Even an entrepreneur and those professions will have much more of an impact on the human race than entertainment will. Monica: What message would you like to leave readers? Winston: I hope people who read my interview will be inspired to do their best, whether as a student or as a parent. I hope parents will be inspired to expose their students to various professions and encourage them to excel.