Former NFL Player Turned Astronaut, Leland Melvin, Tells His Inspirational Story in New Book Entitled “Chasing Space”

Nationwide — Retired pro football player Leland Melvin thought his road to the NFL was an incredible journey until he climbed aboard the shuttle Atlantis and traveled to outer space. Twice. Melvin, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, engineer and astronaut, shares his real-life experiences, triumphs and challenges in an inspirational memoir entitled CHASING SPACE: AN ASTRONAUT’S STORY OF GRIT, GRACE, AND SECOND CHANCES (Amistad Hardcover Original).

Melvin, who was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education, and served as co-chair on the White House’s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force, has also penned a version of his book for children, CHASING SPACE – YOUNG READERS’ VERSION (Amistad Hardcover Original). This version also includes hands-on experiments and activities for boys and girls ages 8-12.

CHASING SPACE is a poignant story of Melvin’s personal journey from the end zone to outer space and back. He is the only person in history to have played for the National Football League and serve as mission specialist for two flights aboard the shuttle Atlantis, working on the International Space Station. His remarkable testimony is a must-read for adults and children!

“The more that I thought about it this journey of a skinny Black kid, from a small southern town going to space and with all the other things happening in our country and the world, what better way to tell a story of inspiration, hope, second chances, and grace,” says Melvin, a native of Lynchburg, Virginia whose parents were longtime educators in the local school system.

The media is invited to consider CHASING SPACE and Leland Melvin for reviews, interviews, and features on debut authors. Related posts on social media should use the hashtag #ChasingSpacethebook.

Book Details:

CHASING SPACE: AN ASTRONAUT’S STORY OF GRIT, GRACE, AND SECOND CHANCES
By Leland Melvin
Publisher: Amistad
ISBN-13: 978-0062496720
$25.99
Available on Amazon.com

CHASING SPACE – YOUNG READERS EDITION
By Leland Melvin
Publisher: Amistad
ISBN-13: 978-0062665928
$12.59
Available on Amazon.com

 

About the Author
Leland Melvin, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, engineer and NASA astronaut. He served on the space shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist and was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010. He also served as the co-chair on the White House’s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force, developing the nation’s five-year STEM education plan. In Spring 2018, he will appear in One Strange Rock, a National Geographic Channel event series that explores life on Earth and its rarity in the universe. He was the host of the Lifetime show Child Genius and a judge for ABC’s BattleBots. He holds five honorary doctorates and has received the NFL Players Association Award of Excellence. He lives in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Follow him on social media:
Twitter – @astro_flow
Facebook – Facebook.com/lelandmelvinpublic
Instagram – @lelandmelvin

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Alicia Maxey Greene
212-634-9108
alicia@theoraclegroupinc.net