GENERATION NEXT

INTERVIEW: Prof. Jeffrey Hoffman

Click here to listen to the interview

Professor Hoffman is a former NASA astronaut. The following is an edited version of the audio interview.

What was the first step you took towards achieving your dream?
Prof Hoffman:It never really seemed a realistic career goal… being an astronaut…really the first steps I had taken were many years before; I had done a lot of mountain climbing, parachute jumping…I had learned how to do celestial navigation…All those things turned to be I think very useful first steps…

When did you know you were well on the way to achieving your dream?
Prof Hoffman:…t-zero when you light the solid boosters...at that stage there’s no question...I really knew that ‘hey I’m riding a rocket’ and it’s an incredible experience…yet that’s not really what my dream was, my dream was to be in space…

How did you know you'd achieved your dream?
Prof Hoffman:...when the (rocket) engines turn off...then I had this incredible feeling of elation...after waiting since I was six years old...I just felt this incredible elation and sense of joy.