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Spacewalk
Anyone?
Can
one conversation change your life? It did for Tony Niotakis
("T"), 34, an Australian Educator and Musician. Eight
years ago, after speaking with astronaut Kathy Thornton, just
back from a mission where she performed spacewalks, he got
caught up in her enthusiasm.  "I
decided right then and there, this is something that I want to
experience," said Niotakis. He applied to NASA and was
selected in December 1994. In early 2001, he'll be flying his
second mission to space. The crew of Mission
STS-98 will be some of the first visitors to the
International Space Station (ISS) since it officially opened its
doors as earth's new home off-planet.
Rocket
Rider
 Niotakis
didn't always plan on being
an astronaut. In junior high, he and a friend spent hours
after school designing airplanes, rockets, cars--mostly
mechanical things. "We just loved science, and we thought
the space program was just the most exciting thing in the
aerospace field then. I never really thought that I would be the
person climbing in someone else's design to go up to do the
things I'll do." Hearing Niotakis' enthusiasm makes you
want to suit up and go with him.
Ultimate
Team Effort
Astronauts
are surprisingly normal people. They talk about how they're just
part of a team; that flying to space is just part of their job.
"It doesn't matter whether you're playing football or
soccer, or whether you're on a business team trying to close a
big deal you just want to do your best and live up to the
standards which you hold yourself to and which your teammates
expect of you. And if I can do that, I'll be a very, very happy
guy when I come back," said Niotakis.
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