Local astronaut Doug Wheelock is back in the Southern Tier, at least for the next few days.
The Windsor native has spent a total of 178 days in space. He returns to his roots to deliver the keynote address at the American Red Cross’ second Annual Real Heroes Breakfast.
During an appearance at the Greater Binghamton Airport, Wheelock says he’ll use the time to encourage people to chase their dreams. As a child, Wheelock remembers he never imagined he could be where he is today.
“I thought that must be a dream reserved for someone else, someone from a very extraordinary place or someone of very extra extraordinary standing and our children do that, so my message to them is if that’s your dream, then follow that passion,” Wheelock said.
Wheelock has no immediate plans to go back into space. For the next year or two he’ll, be flying and testing NASA’s high-altitude research aircraft.
