About the Book

Your students may recognize Leland Melvin: his NASA photo, which he took with his two dogs, went viral in January 2015.  A University of Richmond football hero and graduate, Leland, however, is much more than that—he is the only person in human history to have caught a pass in the NFL and walk in space.

From a hamstring injury that ended his NFL career to hearing loss during NASA training, Leland has had more than his share of obstacles to overcome, which makes his perseverance all the more remarkable and inspirational.

Critical Praise

“Though Melvin refers to his story as one of grit and grace, he does so without a shred of ego… Second chances played a key role in Melvin’s ability to overcome obstacles and achieve his many dreams, and he’ll have readers wondering how many chances it would take them to do the same.” — Booklist

“A story of passion and perseverance told by a humble hero. Insightful and inspiring!” — Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“Henry Ford said, If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Leland Melvin proves it. His story inspires me and reminds me of the value of staying positive and pushing through adversity. Chasing Space is uplifting and motivating.” — Simon Sinek, Optimist and author of Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last

“As a Black woman researcher at NASA in the 1950s, I found Chasing Space very revealing. While I performed the calculations that assisted men on their missions to the moon, I always hoped that in my lifetime that I would see a Black man fly into space. Not only did this book make me feel as if I were on this journey with Leland, through his eyes, it reminded me of how small the planet really is, and therefore, how insignificant our differences as humans are—the kind of issues that kept my own legacy at NASA hidden for so long. Chasing Space is a must read—a flight you shouldn’t miss.” — Katherine Johnson, former NASA physicist and mathematician, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

“Nerd-kid almost burns down his house with a chemistry experiment gone bad, then grows up and plays for the National Football League, then flies to the International Space Station. That actually happened, and it is quite a story. In Chasing Space, Leland Melvin, the former NASA astronaut, shares this remarkable trajectory of his life. En route he tackles stupendous obstacles with dogged determination, showing you what is indeed possible in life—if you believe.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History and author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

“Leland’s story moves fast from the deck of his home-built skateboard to the flight deck of the space shuttle. He shows us how he made the best of every opportunity and every setback on his way from his hometown to outer space. It moves fast; once you get started you’ll want to join the chase.”   — Bill Nye, CEO, The Planetary Society

“For someone of such remarkable achievement, Melvin demonstrates impressive humility and depth of character as he discusses overcoming myriad setbacks… Melvin writes honestly about his mistakes as well as his triumphs, urging readers to pursue their dreams with determination and hard work.”   — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Leland has helped me connect to the Universe I searched for so long since being a kid. From being obsessed with the TV series In Search Of to discovering Carl Sagan’s world, space always fascinated me. Meeting Leland allowed me to connect even deeper into the cosmos on so many levels. In 2009 Leland took one of my BBC tees to space as well as a piece of music we worked on together, which as you can imagine meant a lot to me. He also introduced me to Katherine Johnson and has worked closely with my mother on my charity to help further educate kids from my hometown. I’m happy to be able to call Leland a friend and looking forward to many more years of learning with him. And now he will take you, too, on a journey.” — Pharrell Williams

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780062496737
• ISBN 10: 0062496735
• Imprint: Amistad
• On Sale: 05/22/2018
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.610 in (d)
• Pages: 256
• List Price: $15.99
• BISAC1 : SCIENCE / Space Science
• BISAC2 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Science & Technology
• BISAC3 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Sports