Robert Cabana says he became an astronaut because he loved flying

[Christopher Lusardi]

NASA STEM Stars: Blast Back to School with Former Astronaut Robert Cabana (Part 1 of 4)

Published: Sept 1, 2020

Published: NASA STEM

Question: So, can you explain kind of the journey?  How did you end up (you know) this working, or living in this small community, growing up on a farm to becoming an astronaut and then eventually Center Director here at Kennedy Space Center?

Answer: Absolutely Rachel, I kind of had the best of both worlds. Because I grew up in the city of Minneapolis and got to go to Minneapolis public schools. But, I spent all my summers working on my grandparent's dairy farm.

I used to drive through Little Falls, Minnesota on the way to the dairy farm. Little Falls is where Charles Lindbergh grew up. And in the center of town, there's a bust of him.

And, he was one of my heroes. He grew up on a small farm, not unlike my grandparent's dairy farm. You know. He was the first person to fly across the Atlantic solo.

But, I spent all my summers (you know) milking cows, and mowing alfalfa, and throwing hay bales. And, (it it) it was just. It was a great exercise. It was great being with my grandparents. It was great being outdoors.

I learned so much from my uncles about machinery and how things work on that farm. And, I was able to apply a lot of what I learned on the farm to my education. And also, when I became an astronaut.

So, you know. (When) When it came time to go back to school (uh), I wasn't necessarily excited about going back to school. I'd rather stayed on the farm (and uh) instead of going back to the classroom.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uy0NDsyWAw&feature=youtu.be&t=342

NASA STEM Stars: Blast Back to School with Former Astronaut Robert Cabana (Part 2 of 4)

Published: Sept 1, 2020

Published: NASA STEM

Question: But uh, wait wait wait wait. That's not what teachers want to hear, right now. So, you know. I understand. I agree. Not everybody is as excited to start their first day back at school. But, you know. But, once you were at school, what was it like? (Did you) Did you enjoy it?

Answer: Oh, it was awesome. Once, I was back in school. I loved school. I loved math. I love music. I loved everything about school. I loved history.

And so, I really applied myself well (in) in school. I did very well in (uh) in the Minneapolis public schools. And, I did well enough that I was fortunate enough to get an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Because I wanted to fly.

Ever since I was a little kid. All I wanted to do was fly airplanes. And, that's how come Charles Lindbergh was one of my heroes right, growing up in Minnesota.

And (uh), even though it was a long time before I was born, you know. I read all the books about him and the pilots, and the test pilots, the aces of World War II and Korea, the test pilots of the 50s and 60s flying jets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uy0NDsyWAw&feature=youtu.be&t=424

NASA STEM Stars: Blast Back to School with Former Astronaut Robert Cabana (Part 3 of 4)

Published: Sept 1, 2020

Published: NASA STEM

And, I wanted to fly jets off aircraft carriers. So, I made it into the Naval  Academy and graduated, majored in mathematics, loved engineering, had a lot of mechanical engineering, and was fortunate enough to become a naval aviator.

But, I chose a commission in the United States Marine Corps. So, Marine pilots are naval aviators. The Marine Corps is actually part of the Navy. 

And, I flew jets in the Marine Corps. And, I wanted to use all the math and engineering I had in school along with flying. 

So, as soon as I had a thousand hours of pilot and command time, I applied for Navy Test Pilot school. I didn't get in on the first try. But (uh), I got picked up six months later to go to Navy Test Pilot school.

And, I loved it. I loved all the math that I was doing, the testing, applying (every) all the engineering and stuff that I learned along with flying. And, that's what allowed me to become an astronaut. 

You know. (I) I didn't dream. I could become an astronaut, Rachel.  I held astronauts in such high esteem when I was a kid growing up, I thought. How could anybody do that? But, you know like anything else. You have intermediate goals that you set in getting an education, becoming a pilot. Becoming a test pilot enabled me to become an astronaut. 

And, when I applied, I didn't get in on the first try. Once again, perseverance pays off. But (uh), the next year, (I) I reapplied and was fortunate enough to get selected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uy0NDsyWAw&feature=youtu.be&t=481

NASA STEM Stars: Blast Back to School with Former Astronaut Robert Cabana (Part 4 of 4)

Published: Sept 1, 2020

Published: NASA STEM

What I would ask of all of you is. No matter what you're doing do your very best at it, study hard, and do well in school, find out what motivates you, what you enjoy.

I loved math and engineering,all right. (And) And, I had a talent for flying. So, work isn't work. It's fun. And, school wasn't hard. Because I really enjoyed the subjects that I was majoring (in) in college. So, I was able to apply myself. (And) And, it didn't seem hard studying okay.

So, find out where your passion lies.  And then, if you have a goal don't give up (until you uh) until you achieve it. And, once you achieve it, set a new goal and work toward it.

Like I said, being an astronaut that's way out here (that) that's hard to find that goal. But, there are intermediate steps that you can set (and) and don't give up. I didn't get to be a pilot, a test pilot, or an astronaut on the first try. 

But, they were all things that (I) I wanted to do. And, I persevered, all right. So, when anybody asks how do you become an astronaut, I tell them perseverance.

There are very few that were selected on their (on their) first try. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uy0NDsyWAw&feature=youtu.be&t=1866

[Christopher Lusardi]

Robert Cabana Class of 1967 Astronaut
Publisher: Washburn Miller
Published: Aug 8, 2025

Not only did I not get to become an astronaut, my tour at Pax River was up. And, I had to go back to Japan again without my family. So, I packed up, went to Japan. Was flying over there, and they said. You know. You didn't make it this year. But, we're going to take some more next year. We want you to try again. So, I applied again in 1985 and was fortunate enough to get selected.
So, here's the moral of that whole story.

And for the younger folks out there take this home to your kids and grandkids.

All right, how do you get to be an astronaut, perseverance.

I didn't get into Pilot Training, Test Pilot School, or the astronaut program on the first try. But, I was persistent. And, I didn't give up. And, I was doing something I loved.

And, if you do something you love two things happen. First off, you study hard because you enjoy it. And, works not work. I've hardly worked a day in my life. I've just had a blast doing all the things I got to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgnmMh15M1E&t=538s