October 18, 2006

Astronaut Col. Jack Lousma finds God in space

Filed under: News — admin @ 6:51 am

Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle AstronautHolding a Bible in his hands, the same Bible that has traveled millions of miles into space, former astronaut Col. Jack Lousma said he has been a believer since he was 9 years old.

It was that belief in God that led him to his career with NASA and helped him through his 17 years as an astronaut.

“I believe my relationship with Jesus Christ and my decision to do so was the best decision I ever made,” Lousma said during the “Dinner with an Astronaut” evening hosted by the Liberty Baptist Church of Alanson. “At every juncture … we noted that whenever there was a change it was God directed. God helped us prosper.”

Lousma, 70, was one of 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. During his 17 years with NASA, Lousma logged 6,400 hours of flight time and 1,619 hours in space. He was one of the nation’s first space residents, spending 59 days aboard America’s first space station, Skylab. On his second flight, Lousma commanded the third orbital test flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Lousma said there isn’t another experience like it. He can still remember the first day he was in space, July 28, 1973, and what it felt like to see Earth from a new perspective.

“It’s kind of an overload. When you look back at the planet you don’t see those lines. You can’t see those lines that separate the people,” said Lousma. “When you get up (there) you’re lost in a sea of stars. It’s a spiritual experience as well as a physical experience.”

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