Astronaut Cousin Makes History Today – Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
by Sherry Stocking Kline
05 April 2010
Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and fellow educator astronauts, Richard Arnold and Joseph Acaba - NASA photo
Usually when our ancestors, or even ourselves become a bigger part of history we’re just not aware of it at the time. It’s when the history books write the story and we read it later that we know, even if they did not, that they helped shape the events of that time.
But today, my cousin’s daughter, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, went up in space and for all time she became one of those whose names go down in history books, one of those brave and courageous ones who went into outer space and helped shape history.
Dorothy is one of three educator astronauts, and she will see our world, our earth, in a perspective we can only try to imagine! Just think of what she can share with her students, and those she will speak to in the future.
Dorothy told me that her job will be on the flight deck as the flight engineer for ascent and entry, and she will be flying the Shuttle’s robotic arm, helping move 18,000 pounds of science and engineering equipment.
Dottie said that during the spacewalks, she will be inside as the crew member leading them through the spacewalk.
The launch this morning (Praise the Lord!) was picture perfect, and for the next 13 days, Dottie will be doing what she’s trained for the past several years to do, and those of us here, friends and family will pray for her safety and watch their mission on www.NASA.gov and our local television channels!
Other Related Links:
Denver Channel News – Dottie’s parent’s interview from Ft. Collins, CO
Video: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/22747395/index.html
Article: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22746823/detail.html
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Metcalf-Lindenburger
Runner’s World Article: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-243-410–13448-0,00.html#
Wellington Daily News: http://www.wellingtondailynews.com/features/x1336921704/Astronaut-has-Sumner-County-ties
Other Related Posts:
Follow the STS-131 Astronauts on Facebook
What’s Going Up in Space with Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger
Posted in 
Tags: 
Sherry,
Thanks for sharing this great story with us. Our family has always been watchers of space flights, lift-offs, etc, so we will be watching this with even more interest. Looking forward for more of your updates.
Hi Joan! Thank you! I’d always watched the lift-off’s, too, my son was fascinated with them! It’s amazing to look back and remember that the little girl that bounced on an inner tube mini-tramp with my two is now circling the world and looking down on all of us! What an awesome experience!
This is VERY cool! Very exciting stuff.
This is exciting stuff, Carol! And almost unbelievable! But Dottie has always been an achiever, one who set goals and followed through, and believed in herself. I think so many of us don’t achieve the goals we’d like to just because we start out not believing that we actually CAN do it!
How cool! Thanks for sharing this bit of family history.
You’re welcome, Amy! I realized that the blog was a great place to preserve and share our family history. (I need to copy it into the family history book, too!)
How great to be a part of history and for it to be recorded for the family. Will observe this flight’s proceeding. Thanks for the links.
It surely must feel great to Dottie to be such a wonderful part of history. I know that she has worked hard at such a wide variety of things to be able to do this, and she earned the right to go ‘up’ by excelling at her training. Our family is very happy for her and very proud of her! Imagine the stories she can leave behind for her descendants!
I’m really happy to know about this!
Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome! I need to update my links on Dottie! I know she has been traveling and speaking to schools and other groups. I really liked the news article I read where she stated “Dream Big. Work Hard!” Read it here: http://www.familytreewriter.com/2010/06/dottie-metcalf-lindenbuger-dream-big-work-hard/