November 6, 2008-- Quiz time! Which astronaut has the longest name at NASA? I’m afraid it’s pretty much a tie. This was all prompted by a voicemail from a colleague and it refers to one of the crewmembers aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour this week.

A news director colleague of mine called to ask how to pronounce the name of a certain astronaut, without being specific.

I just knew she had to mean Heidi Stephanyshyn-Piper.

The last name of each astronaut on a Space Shuttle mission can be found along the border of that flight's embroidered cloth crew patch. On Stephanyshyn-Piper’s first mission, that whopper of a hyphenated last name nearly filled one third of the border of her crew patch. Before you ask, the first part of her last name is pronounced like “definition”. And, if you’re wondering if it’s the longest name of a Shuttle astronaut, the answer is probably no.

Just ask Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger.

She hasn’t flown yet, but when she does, her name will no doubt need lots of room on the crew patch as well. Of course, sticklers might award the prize for longest name depending on whether you use “Heidemarie”, or Dottie compared to Dorothy. Your choice. They’re all correct.

On the book front... Many thanks to the Florida Historical Society for the kind invitation for me to write the introduction to its special edition Fall journal. The publication spotlights the 50^th anniversary of NASA, and includes articles by local historians and even U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. It comes out this month.

Also, hardbound copies of “Final Countdown: NASA and the End of the Space Shuttle Program” are available over the holidays. An updated version of the book comes out in paperback in the Spring.

More to come…