Meet Veteran NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin, the Only Man to Fly in Space and Play in NFL

By  //  January 26, 2019

only person in human history to catch a pass in the NFL and in space

WATCH: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Florida’s Space Coast will host a special meet-and-greet with veteran NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, the only person ever drafted into the NFL to have flown in space, and an exploration of MRVN, the larger-than-life Mars rover concept vehicle. (AARP video)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Florida’s Space Coast are taking football fans on a journey through the galaxy and beyond on Monday, January 28 at 10 a.m. at the Moon to Mars exhibit at Super Bowl LIVE in Centennial Olympic Park.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host this special meet-and-greet with veteran NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, the only person ever drafted into the NFL to have flown in space, and an exploration of MRVN, the larger-than-life Mars rover concept vehicle.

He is the only person in human history to catch a pass in the National Football League and in space. Though his path from the gridiron to the heavens was riddled with setbacks and injury, Leland persevered to reach the stars.

Melvin is an engineer and served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129.

He was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010.

Leland Melvin, an outstanding wide receiver at the University of Richmond, was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1986 NFL Draft. Melvin is an engineer and served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129. He was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010.

Melvin was an outstanding wide receiver at the University of Richmond and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1986 NFL Draft.

He is first on the University of Richmond’s career lists with 198 receptions for 2,669 yards and was an AP honorable mention All-America selection and second team Apple Academic All-America in 1985.

Other highlights during the special meet-and-greet will include photo opportunities with a lunar rover, information about NASA “spinoffs” relating to football, and an entertaining display of the differences between playing football on Mars, Moon and Earth.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored his athletic and academic accomplishments by placing his Detroit Lions jersey under glass in Canton, Ohio.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored Leland Melvin athletic and academic accomplishments by placing his Detroit Lions jersey under glass in Canton, Ohio. He is the only person in human history to catch a pass in the National Football League and in space. Though his path from the gridiron to the heavens was riddled with setbacks and injury, Leland persevered to reach the stars. (Pro Football Hall of Fame image)
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Florida’s Space Coast are taking football fans on a journey through the galaxy and beyond. (NASA image)
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