Under the HOOD
The Newsletter of RPM Foundation • Out of this World
Message from the President If we at the RPM Foundation have been walking on air for the last 8 months or so, it’s because our high-flying RPM Ambassador – NASA Astronaut Drew Feustel – has been floating above the clouds. Dr. Feustel is rounding out his third mission in space, this time as Commander aboard the International Space Station on ISS Mission 55/56, with a scheduled return in the coming weeks. While astronauts are rightly proud of their academic accomplishments in their NASA biographies, Dr. Feustel also lists his time as an automotive mechanic working on 1950’s Jaguars while attending community college in the 1980s, his three years as the Purdue University Carting Grand Prix chairman, his membership in the BMW Club of America, and his enthusiasm for automotive restoration and car and motorcycle racing. Needless to say, he is our kind of guy. Drew wanted to share the excitement of his mission with RPM firsthand, so he extended an exclusive invitation for thirty-five RPM students to chat with him live – from space! – via Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Floating weightless aboard the station, Drew inspired the students with his message of believing in themselves to pursue their career paths, no matter how high it may lead them. The students were further inspired by Chad Schultz, one of the NASA engineers on Drew’s ground support team. A young man himself who is decidedly a “car guy,” Chad explained to the students how his mechanical skills acquired in the automotive
hobby enabled his own path to the NASA labs. The day ended with Chad informally critiquing some of our RPM students’ resumes while hanging out by his Mazda Miata street racer at the Space Center’s Rocket Park. In Dr. Feustel, RPM has a found a passionate and articulate mentor and ally in promoting vocational education in the skilled mechanical trades. With now nine spacewalks in his career – the third-highest cumulative time of any astronaut – Drew is an exemplary example of the value of the technical and mechanical education that RPM promotes. For the RPM Foundation, Astronaut Drew Feustel has – literally and figuratively – been heaven sent. We cannot wait until he gets his feet safely back on Earth to continue engaging this American hero in all things RPM, beginning with Off To The Races With RPM – COTA which is sponsored by Tony Parella and SVRA. RPM has a lot to be grateful for… See you along the way,
Diane Fitzgerald, President
Team RPM — (l to r) Diane Fitzgerald and Linda Daro watch Drew's launch from the RPM offices in Chicago.
IN THE FIRST PERSON A Message (from Above!) from Astronaut Drew Feustel My interest in cars – and more specifically mechanical systems – has been instrumental to my success as an astronaut. I was always interested in the way things worked, and it was gratifying to work with my hands and see the fruits of my labor come to life as I completed my projects. As an astronaut, much of what we do relies on our ability to understand mechanical systems, and to use our curiosity, knowledge and intuition to solve complex and critical problems. I’ve pursued an association with RPM – the educational arm of America’s Automotive Trust – because I believe it is important to ensure that students today find a way to learn technical skills that are ultimately important in all walks of life. Decades ago, students were encouraged to learn practical, hands-on skills like plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, basic machine work and basic mechanics. In more recent years with the exponential pace of tech development, students are not pursuing those areas of education and, as a result, we see a shortage of skilled workers that can serve a persistent need in our society. (continued on page 2)
Astronaut Drew Feustel flying the RPM colors at the Vintage Races at Sonoma Raceway.
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