Mike Melvill

Mike Mevil (http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/melvill.htm)

I became aware of this hero because I was searching for a person that went up to space. Since I like space and I always wanted to go into space I’ll pick a hero that has been in space but my hero didn’t only go into space, he built a space shuttle. My hero has been a test pilot so he knows what type of layout he liked in his space shuttle and probably helped a way to get into space.

Mike Mevill (Test Pilot) (http://www.astronautix.com/astros/melvill.htm)

Mike Melvill has been a test pilot for about 23 years. He has been working with Burt Rutan for about 27 years. He went to college at Highbury Preparatory School and Hilton College. He came to America from South Africa in 1967 and in three years he became a U.S. citizen.

Mike Melvill started his job or career by meeting Mr. Rutan. He showed him his space craft called the Rutan VariViggen. Mr. Rutan was impressed with the air craft and hired Mike Mellvill to be a test pilot for him. Mike accepted the job and now he worked for him for 27 years.

Mike Mevill helps other by testing the planes and air craft to that they work fine so nothing happens so that a lot of people could die from something that goes wrong. Mike did something that a lot of people didn’t think was possible. Building a space craft and going to space. Although he was only in space for 10 min. He made a lot of people believe that anyone can go into space.

The goals I need to fulfill are the get good grades in both high school and college and learn to be able to be in space. I need to start studying more because I don’t think I’m doing well enough yet to be able to go and become an astronaut. I think it would be amazing to go up to space, even if it was only for 10 minutes, like Mike Melvill.