Space stories: Onetime NASA space shuttle member returns to Ashland after three decades

ASHLAND – Three, two, one ... blast off!

"How much vibration did you feel on your shuttle launches," asked one of the 60 or 70 people in attendance Thursday night after the launch of former astronaut Col. Robert Springer's talk about flying in NASA space shuttles.

"A lot of vibration," shouted Springer as he moved a finger up and down his throat, creating a vibrating voice. "You wouldn't believe. From a structural engineering standpoint, you could actually feel the different modes of vibration as you lifted off. It was absolutely incredible."

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With his talk, the 1960 Ashland High School graduate gave those listening in the school's Little Theatre a feel for what it was like to fly in a space shuttle, which he did in both 1989 and 1990.

Youngster William Kocher looked the most ready for the "space flight" dressed in an astronaut suit with a shirt reading "NASA" underneath. Before Thursday night's "takeoff," the 5-year-old got to spend time with Springer outside the theater to discuss the upcoming "mission."

Family in audience visited Kennedy Space Center during Florida vacation

It was the first astronaut he and his NASA-loving family from Polk — parents Chris and Megan and 3-year-old sister, Kaitlyn — have met. As part of a family vacation in August, they visited the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral in Florida, where they bought a Barbie Doll wearing a NASA suit for Kaitlyn, who pretended to be flying the doll for much of Springer's talk, which included pictures on a big screen.

Megan, who grew up in Cleveland visiting NASA Glenn Research Center many times, said she probably enjoyed Springer's descriptions of being on a space shuttle even more than her children.

"I definitely wanted to be an astronaut as a kid," she said with a big smile. Then with a laugh added: "But I realized how much motion sickness hits me."

Even though he never got seasick in the Navy, where he was a test pilot who graduated from its Top Gun school, or during other parts of his military career, which included a tour of duty during the Vietnam War, Springer said he got motion sickness on his first space shuttle flight.

"Getting sick in space is no fun," said Springer, who added when he tried to puke in a barf bag on the shuttle, with zero gravity, it came back up into his face. "I could see the headlines, 'Ashland astronaut dies in his own puke,.' " he added with a laugh.

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What interested Megan most about Thursday's "flight" was the pharmaceutical discoveries from research done on the shuttle since she works at the pharmaceutical lab in Ashland, Charles River Laboratories.

Jennifer Marquette, executive director of the Ashland County Historical Society, which played host to the event, said it was fascinating to hear how Springer said the DNA of astronaut Scott Kelly changed while he was in space for a year to the point that he was no longer considered an identical twin with his astronaut brother Mark Kelly.

Part of a busy visit that included dedicating the new science wing at Ashland High School

"It has been very nice to have him here," Marquette said about Springer's several days in Ashland, which has included several other talks, a dedication of AHS's new science wing and a tour of the city he hasn't visited in about 30 years shortly after his space shuttle flights.

"I think it is cool that we have someone like him from our community who has accomplished what he has accomplished," she said. "There just aren't many astronauts in our society."

Tom Owens, 42, of Ashland, remembers being in grade school the last time Springer visited his hometown and loved hearing him talk about his space shuttle flights again.

"He was pretty much as I remember him back then, telling the kids always do you're best, carpe diem, seize those opportunities," Owens said.

Springer emphasized for the handful of young people in the audience the importance of teamwork, especially when things start going wrong.

Teamwork came in handy for Springer after his talk while people were in line waiting to speak with him. That's when an Ashland man, who called himself "an independent journalist" kept drifting around the line trying to ask Springer about his "extraordinary claims about being in space" and conspiracy theories about the moon landing and the shape of Earth.

Disturbance from 'an independent journalist' puts damper on the event

People from the Historical Society, Ashland High School and others helped lead Springer out of the theater and away from the man who wouldn't leave when politely asked. They then called for the police, who eventually arrested the man for, according to the police report, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and failure to disclose personal information.

Tom McNaull, a local space and NASA fan who was instrumental in getting Springer, who now lives in Florida, to return to his hometown this week, said he was disappointed that such a wonderful event ended the way it did.

"He was here to inspire kids," said McNaull, who had asked Springer to come to Ashland two years ago while both were at a 50th anniversary celebration of the moon landing at the (Neil) Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta. "I think the kids have too many role models today on YouTube and TikTok. He's a real role model."

Reach Jarred at jopatz@times-gazette.com

On Twitter: @JarredOpatz

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Former NASA astronaut talks about experiences on space shuttle