posted 05-04-2011 07:09 AM               

NASA Astronaut Piers Sellers Returns to Goddard

NASA astronaut Piers Sellers is moving from the Johnson Space Center in Houston to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Beginning June 6, he will serve as the deputy director of Goddard's Sciences and Exploration Directorate.

"Piers will be greatly missed in our office," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "He is a great team player, ready to help in any capacity needed. His diverse skills in robotics, spacewalking and his vast knowledge of science, astronomy and engineering were instrumental in helping us building the International Space Station."

Sellers previously worked at Goddard as a researcher from 1982 to 1996. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew to the International Space Station on STS-112 in 2002, STS-121 in 2006 and STS-132 in 2010. He has logged nearly 35 days in space, including almost 41 hours spacewalking during six excursions.

At Goddard, Sellers studied interactions between the biosphere and the atmosphere, and helped construct computer models of the global climate system. He also interpreted satellite data and conducted large-scale field experiments in the U.S., Canada, Africa and Brazil. He served as the first project scientist for the Terra mission from 1991 to 1996.

posted 01-16-2016 03:49 PM               

After handling the immediate business associated with the medical news — informing family, friends, work; tidying up some finances; putting out stacks of unread New York Times Book Reviews to recycle; and throwing a large "Limited Edition" holiday party, complete with butlers, I had some time to sit at my kitchen table and draw up the bucket list.

Very quickly, I found out that I had no desire to jostle with wealthy tourists on Mount Everest, or fight for some yardage on a beautiful and exclusive beach, or all those other things one toys with on a boring January afternoon. Instead, I concluded that all I really wanted to do was spend more time with the people I know and love, and get back to my office as quickly as possible.

...I've no complaints. I'm very grateful for the experiences I've had on this planet. As an astronaut I spacewalked 220 miles above the Earth. Floating alongside the International Space Station, I watched hurricanes cartwheel across oceans, the Amazon snake its way to the sea through a brilliant green carpet of forest, and gigantic nighttime thunderstorms flash and flare for hundreds of miles along the Equator. From this God's-eye-view, I saw how fragile and infinitely precious the Earth is. I'm hopeful for its future.

posted 01-22-2016 02:47 PM               

Piers was a regular guest on the BBC's famed Sky at Night astronomy programme in the past and comes across as a gentleman.

posted 01-23-2016 07:55 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Dixon:
Inspirational and courageous.

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posted 02-26-2016 06:38 PM               

"I've got a new grandson, my first grandchild. The thing I like to do most is to see my family.

"My son and daughter are living in Texas, so I'm trying to see them as much as I can. That's a lot of fun."

...speaking of the moment he got his diagnosis, the former Daily Mirror Pride of Britain winner says: "When I walked into the doctor's office they told me, 'You have three months right now if you don't have any treatment.

"'And if you do have treatment and it doesn't work, you have three months. If it does work you have 12 to 18 months,' which is where I am right now because chemo is working pretty well, so I'm happy for that."

posted 04-29-2016 09:33 AM               

Academy Award winning actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio visited Goddard Saturday to talk about NASA Earth science with former astronaut Piers Sellers, the current deputy director of Goddard’s Sciences and Exploration Directorate.

They discussed NASA missions studying changes in the Earth’s atmosphere, water and land masses for a climate change documentary DiCaprio has in production.

Using Goddard’s Hyperwall high-definition display system, they viewed presentations based on actual science data captured by NASA’s fleet of satellites orbiting Earth, as well as climate and ocean-current modeling done by the NASA Center for Climate Simulation at Goddard.

Mr. DiCaprio also viewed the clean room where the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope is being developed.

Photos credit: NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth

posted 12-17-2016 01:08 PM               

Space Foundation Board Selects Piers Sellers to Receive the 2017 General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award

Award Honors Former NASA Astronaut Piers Sellers

Each spring, during its Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation confers its highest honor – the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award.

The 2017 honoree is Piers Sellers, Ph.D., OBE, British-born former NASA astronaut and climate scientist currently serving as Deputy Director, Sciences & Exploration Directorate, and Acting Director, Earth Sciences Division, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He became became an American citizen in 1991 to pursue his dream of going to space.

Sellers was nominated for the award by British space journalist and broadcaster Sarah Cruddas, with endorsement by British media personality Carol Vorderman MBE and former NASA astronauts Garrett Reisman, Kenneth Ham, Michael Good and Gregory Johnson.

In nominating Sellers, Cruddas wrote: He has dedicated his life to Earth and Space Science, from working in climatology for NASA, to three amazing Space Shuttle missions and helping lead the Goddard Space Flight Center. From his numerous appearances on TV and radio, including on the iconic British TV show The Sky at Night, to writing articles for the general public about climate science, he has attracted international respect.

In an article published in The New York Times, Jan. 16, 2016, Sellers made public his diagnosis of stage four pancreatic cancer.

In announcing the selection of Sellers, Space Foundation Board Chairman ADM James O. Ellis, Jr., USN (Ret.), said, "Dr. Sellers is an incredibly accomplished and highly regarded scientist, astronaut and author who has made superb contributions to his science, been a treasured friend and teammate to his astronaut colleagues, and, quietly and professionally, through his observation and study of our planet, benefited us all. He has spent much of his professional life studying our Earth's climate and has devoted himself to analyzing and communicating the nature of climate change and why action matters."

Ellis continued, "Not long after receiving the cancer diagnosis, Dr. Sellers, showing extraordinary courage and true humanity, said: 'As an astronaut I spacewalked 220 miles above the Earth. Floating alongside the International Space Station, I watched hurricanes cartwheel across oceans, the Amazon snake its way to the sea through a brilliant green carpet of forest, and gigantic nighttime thunderstorms flash and flare for hundreds of miles along the Equator. From this God's-eye-view, I saw how fragile and infinitely precious the Earth is. I'm hopeful for its future. And so, I'm going to work tomorrow.' Dr. Sellers is an incredibly optimistic man with tremendous faith in people and their ability to bring about positive change. We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize him for his lifetime of achievement."

About Piers Sellers

Born in Sussex, England, Sellers earned a Bachelor of Science degree in ecological science from the University of Edinburgh and a doctorate in biometeorology from the University of Leeds. He also trained as a Royal Air Force cadet to pilot gliders and powered aircraft. Astronaut Neil Armstrong endorsed Sellers for an OBE (Order of the British Empire), and Sellers has been honored by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

His career as a research meteorologist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, focused on computer modelling of climate systems. He became an American citizen in 1991, and was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996. He flew on three Space Shuttle missions, including STS-121, the "Return to Flight" mission after the loss of Columbia. He logged more than 559 hours in space and nearly 41 EVA hours during six spacewalks.

Earlier this year, Sellers was interviewed by film producer Leonardo DiCaprio for his documentary Before the Flood, and he discussed the NASA missions underway to study changes in the Earth's atmosphere, water and land masses.

About the Award

Honoring its late, long-time chairman, Gen. James E. Hill, USAF (Ret.), the award recognizes outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves through lifetime contributions to humankind through exploration, development and use of space.

The award luncheon is sponsored by Lockheed Martin, and will be held on Wednesday, April 5, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, site of the Space Symposium.