Meet the experts behind every stellar journey.
Mike Leinbach
Mike Leinbach embodies the spirit of space exploration at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Beginning as a structural engineer in 1984, he rose to become the final Shuttle Launch Director, overseeing 37 missions from 2000 to 2011. Known as the voice behind the final “Go” for launch, Leinbach also led the Columbia disaster recovery and co-founded the Columbia Preservation Team to advance spacecraft safety. His leadership earned him top honors, including the Presidential Rank Award and NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal. Now an author and consultant, Leinbach continues to inspire future generations with his unwavering dedication to human spaceflight.
Dr. Kirby Runyon
Dr. Kirby Runyon is a planetary geologist at the Planetary Science Institute, known for exploring the landscapes of Mars, the Moon, and Pluto. With a PhD from Johns Hopkins and experience on NASA’s New Horizons mission, he’s helped uncover Pluto’s icy mountains and advanced planetary mapping. Runyon also brings space science to life for the public—through media, zero-gravity flights, and hands-on education. A scientist and community leader, he bridges science and spirituality, inspiring curiosity across both worlds. Whether mapping alien terrains or mentoring future explorers, Dr. Runyon is helping shape the next era of space discovery.
Jean Wright
Jean Wright, the last “Sew Sister,” helped make history—one stitch at a time. As the final seamstress hired during NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, she crafted the thick thermal protection blankets that shielded astronauts from the extreme heat of reentry. Blending a childhood love of sewing with a passion for space, Jean became part of an elite team whose precision quilting made human spaceflight safer. Today, she shares that legacy as a Kennedy Space Center docent and founder of Sew Sisters Space Creations. Her story, captured in Sew Sister, celebrates the powerful intersection of art, science, and exploration.
Don Thomas
Dr. Donald Thomas is a former NASA astronaut, engineer, and passionate STEM advocate with four spaceflights and 692 Earth orbits under his belt. After earning degrees in physics and materials engineering, he joined NASA, where he flew on missions STS-65, -70, -83, and -94—conducting hundreds of microgravity experiments and deploying a major satellite. He later served as NASA’s director of operations in Russia and led science planning for the International Space Station. From 2007–2015, he spearheaded STEM outreach at Towson University and now travels the world inspiring students to pursue science. In 2018, he received the Frank G. Brewer Trophy for his impact on STEM education.
Send us your information, and
we’ll get back to you.
Send us your information, and
we’ll get back to you.
