CA Set to Welcome Astronaut & Captain Ashby
Colorado Academy is excited to welcome astronaut and retired US Navy Captain Jeff Ashby to campus on Friday, April 1.
Ashby is a former naval officer, aviator, test pilot, and NASA commander. He is a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions. Ashby grew up in Evergreen, Colorado and graduated form Evergreen High School. He attended the University of Idaho and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee. Ashby is a graduate of the Naval Test Pilot School and the Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun).
As a test pilot in the U.S. Navy, Ashby helped develop the F/A-18 aircraft and few in combat missions as part of Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. He also commanded a fighter squadron stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. In his 25-year Navy career, Ashby accumulated over 7000 flight hours and 1000 aircraft carrier landings during 6 aircraft carrier deployments.
Lower School students at CA have been preparing for his visit, and have created a list of questions for Ashby including:
- What is it like when you blast off into space?
- What is it like in low gravity?
- Was it harder or easier to live in space and why?
- What did you miss most in space?
- Have you been around when animals have been to space? If so, how did the animals react?
- What do you think was your most impactful flight?
- Have you ever saved a life when you were up in space?
All students will have a chance to hear Captain Ashby speak in the school’s All-School assembly.
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