Author
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Topic: Piers Sellers, NASA astronaut (1955-2016)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 47758 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-23-2016 04:04 PM
collectSPACE Piers Sellers, space shuttle astronaut and NASA climate scientist, dies at 61Piers Sellers, a British-American climate scientist and former NASA astronaut who launched on three space shuttle missions to the International Space Station, died on Friday (Dec. 23). He was 61. Sellers' death came just over 11 months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in an editorial for The New York Times. In the column, Sellers wrote about how his prognosis added a sense of urgency to his work on climate change. "I was forced to decide how to spend my remaining time," Sellers explained. "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." The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden: The entire NASA family mourns the passing of scientist and astronaut Piers Sellers.Piers was dedicated to all facets of exploration. His curiosity and drive to uncover new knowledge was generously shared with audiences around the world, both from space and in wide travels to reach as many people as possible with an essential understanding of our fragile planet. Piers devoted his life to saving the planet. As a climate scientist, his work in computer modeling of the climate system, satellite remote sensing studies and field work using aircraft, satellites and ground teams broke new ground in our understanding of Earth's systems. His legacy will be one not only of urgency that the climate is warming but also of hope that we can yet improve humanity's stewardship of this planet. His cancer diagnosis became a catalyst for him to work even harder on efforts to save the planet from global warming for the benefit of future generations. Piers was an eternal optimist whose positive energy inspired all those who had the good fortune to know him. His laughter, humor, and lighthearted spirit are as much a part of his legacy as his work. In his three journeys to orbit as a NASA astronaut, he demonstrated robotics, performed research and helped build the International Space Station. These journeys and his ongoing dedication to scientific inquiry inspired a new generation to take up his challenge to become better caretakers of Earth and extend humanity's reach in space. It was my great honor to present Piers with the Distinguished Service Medal in June 2016 in recognition of his service to our agency and the world. In a New York Times opinion piece in 2016, he 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." Today we lost a tremendous public servant who was dedicated to NASA, the nation and the world. He was a strident defender and eloquent spokesperson for our home planet, Earth. Spacewalker and scientist, free thinker and friend to our planet, and all who seek new knowledge, to say he will be missed would be a gross understatement. |
DeepSea Member Posts: 69 From: Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 12-23-2016 04:32 PM
Heartbroken. RIP. |
gareth89 Member Posts: 426 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 12-23-2016 04:36 PM
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dom Member Posts: 964 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-23-2016 04:47 PM
Very sad. He seemed a true English gentleman. RIP. |
india-mike Member Posts: 104 From: Linnich, Northrine Westfalia, Germany Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 12-23-2016 04:57 PM
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Kite Member Posts: 1006 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 12-23-2016 05:09 PM
. RIP A very brave man. |
nasamad Member Posts: 2181 From: Essex, UK Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 12-23-2016 05:11 PM
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4426 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 12-23-2016 05:11 PM
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David C Member Posts: 1318 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 12-23-2016 05:14 PM
RIP |
mode1charlie Member Posts: 1296 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 12-23-2016 05:16 PM
R.I.P., Dr. Sellers. |
issman1 Member Posts: 1082 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-23-2016 05:17 PM
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Michael Davis Member Posts: 545 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 12-23-2016 05:17 PM
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Spoon Member Posts: 155 From: Cumbria, UK Registered: May 2006
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posted 12-23-2016 05:19 PM
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ringo67 Member Posts: 193 From: Seekonk, Mass., USA Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-23-2016 05:22 PM
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alcyone Member Posts: 165 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 12-23-2016 05:24 PM
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Greggy_D Member Posts: 1005 From: Michigan Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-23-2016 05:26 PM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2774 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-23-2016 05:38 PM
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star51L Member Posts: 457 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 12-23-2016 05:51 PM
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spaceman Member Posts: 1154 From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 12-23-2016 06:04 PM
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Daniel on the Moon Member Posts: 354 From: Bronxville, NY Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 12-23-2016 06:21 PM
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Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3457 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-23-2016 06:39 PM
For those who've heard this story before, forgive me:Sellers was a guest — not an attendee — at the April 2012 ceremony where shuttle Discovery was transferred to the Smithsonian and Enterprise was moved out. Most of the astronauts headed back to the museum along a "cattle chute," so it was relatively easy to call out their names in hopes of getting an autograph: "Mr. Sellers, Mr. Sellers, a moment please, to sign our books." He did so, and with amazement, asked, "How did you know my name?" as he was wearing a business suit, not the blue NASA flightsuit. "Um, you're wearing a name tag, sir," I pointed out. The Discovery transfer ceremony, incidentally, my only time meeting Sellers, was the only time I met John Glenn. I might have had a chance to meet Sellers earlier, when the STS-132 crew did a meet-and-greet in 2010, including a stop in Georgetown, Maryland, but I opted instead to again see Garrett Reisman (who also was on STS-132), who did a presentation of a flown item to a Brooklyn eatery owner. |
Jurg Bolli Member Posts: 1120 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-23-2016 06:43 PM
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Mike Dixon Member Posts: 1591 From: Kew, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-23-2016 07:12 PM
.WAY too young. |
Delta7 Member Posts: 1677 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 12-23-2016 07:28 PM
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Wehaveliftoff Member Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-23-2016 08:19 PM
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hlbjr Member Posts: 530 From: Delray Beach Florida USA Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 12-23-2016 09:03 PM
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randy Member Posts: 2538 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-23-2016 09:35 PM
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Ronpur Member Posts: 1250 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
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posted 12-23-2016 10:25 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2274 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-23-2016 11:00 PM
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jasonelam Member Posts: 694 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 12-23-2016 11:02 PM
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Grounded! Member Posts: 478 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 12-23-2016 11:45 PM
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Philip Member Posts: 6121 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-24-2016 12:11 AM
.We lost yet another brilliant person this year...
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SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 1150 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 12-24-2016 12:15 AM
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MSS Member Posts: 941 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-24-2016 12:25 AM
RIP Piers John. |
Lasv3 Member Posts: 450 From: Bratislava, Slovakia Registered: Apr 2009
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posted 12-24-2016 01:00 AM
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Lewis007 Member Posts: 136 From: Geldermalsen, the Netherlands Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-24-2016 01:12 AM
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SPACEFACTS Member Posts: 352 From: Germany Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 12-24-2016 01:23 AM
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OWL Member Posts: 186 From: United Kingdom Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 12-24-2016 01:36 AM
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East-Frisian Member Posts: 626 From: Germany Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-24-2016 02:00 AM
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18blue78 Member Posts: 147 From: UK Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 12-24-2016 02:09 AM
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