Orbiting Kansas- Steve Hawley

Nov 2

2 min read

Steve Hawley is a Salina, Kansas native whose lifelong fascination with astronomy took him from looking through a backyard telescope to exploring the universe firsthand. After graduating from Salina High School (now Salina Central), Hawley attended the University of Kansas, where he earned degrees in astronomy and physics. His passion for understanding the stars began in third grade, and by fifth grade, he was already imagining a future where astronomers could study the universe from space.

In 1978, Hawley was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate, beginning a remarkable career that would take him into space five times aboard the Space Shuttle. Throughout his career, he played an important role in some of NASA's most significant missions, including the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990 and its second servicing mission in 1997. He also participated in the deployment of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Beyond his time in space, Hawley held several leadership positions at NASA, including serving as Associate Director of NASA's Ames Research Center. His work helped advance our understanding of the universe and the capabilities of space exploration.

After decades of working in astronomy and human spaceflight, Hawley continues to share his experiences and perspective with the next generation of scientists and explorers. His memoir, Eyes to the Stars, reflects on his time as an astronaut, the evolution of the Space Shuttle program, and the people and decisions that helped shape an important era in space exploration. From a young boy growing up in Salina to helping place one of the world's most important telescopes into orbit, Hawley's story is a testament to curiosity, persistence, and the importance of taking a chance on something extraordinary.

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