Apr 5, 2007 11:10 pm US/Mountain
CU Grad To Pilot Shuttle Atlantis To Space Station
by Karlyn Tilley
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) ―
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Steve Swanson is the 17th CU grad to fly in space.
CBS
An astronaut who calls Colorado home will be aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on its next trip to the International Space Station. At the controls will be University of Colorado graduate Steve Swanson.
At age 47, Steve Swanson made his dream come true … to fly a mission to space.
"I thought about this as something I could do," Swanson said. "I thought it would be a fun job and exciting. So I started applying at that point and working towards it."
CU Research Coordinator Brian Sanders said it's a long road and takes a lot of dedication, enthusiasm and hard work.
"It's something that a lot of people look up to and respect and it's a huge accomplishment," Sanders said.
Students and teachers at CU Boulder are especially proud since Swanson is a graduate.
"I am very happy to have gone to school there and kind of take a part of them with me on my way up," Swanson said.
Swanson is not the first, but the 17th CU graduate to fly in space.
"I think there's only one other institution in the nation that has more astronauts and that's the U.S. Air force Academy," Sanders said.
It's a reputation that excites future grads about their school and their potential.
"I always wanted to be an astronaut," student Emily Walters said. "I always loved Mars, so I figured I'd be the first person on Mars, so that would be a great experience."
Swanson said the future is unlimited.
"You can do what you want. All sorts of opportunities exist out in the world," Swanson said. "You just have to put your mind to it and work hard at it and you can do all sorts of things."
The launch is scheduled for Sept. 9. Swanson considers Steamboat Springs home.
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