Story Published: Aug 21, 2008 at 9:02 PM PST
Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 12:02 AM PST
John Herrington became a NASA astronaut in 1996, and was part of a space shuttle crew that flew to the space station in 2002.
He’s on a special bike tour, special in part because he's a member of the Chickasaw Nation, and the only enrolled tribal member to ever fly in space. On Thursday, as he stopped in Lapwai for a visit, he was less than 500 miles into a 4,000 mile trip.
"Part of what NASA does is inspire the next generation of explorers," said Herrington. "So I'm using my role as an astronaut, what I've done as an astronaut as a hook to get kids to maybe pay attention to doing some stuff. And I'm riding a bicycle to promote math and science. I started in Cape Flattery; I am going to Cape Canaveral. I have a website, I do a problem of the day and it's to get the kids to put the practical application of math into something that's fun."
Herrington drew quite the crowd of youngsters from the Lapwai Boys and Girls Club Thursday, talking about what it's like in zero gravity, like being able to lift a thousand pounds with just your thumb and forefinger.
He said he's on his bike to experience the things you can't in space.
"You can see a lot from space, but you can't really appreciate the beauty and the people until you're down on the surface," he said.
And even though he's in NASA shape, Herrington said he has been surprised by his own endurance on a challenging bike ride.
"I pedaled across Neah Bay, came over Port Angeles, came over Snoqualmie Pass, Yakima," said Herrington. "My thermometer said 117 degrees in Yakima. But it's great, a lot of neat stories and I get to come to places like this."
Herrington was at Spalding Park Thursday night, showing a video of his shuttle launch.
You can track his progress at www.rockettrek.com
