In a true other worldly moment, we wound up driving Roger Keith Crouch (an American scientist and astronaut), who flew as a payload specialist on two NASA Space Shuttle missions in 1997. Sometimes the most extraordinary stories appear in the most ordinary places. #Let'sDrive in 3. 2. 1...

Unexpected Encounter

The unexpected encounter with an astronaut during a routine rideshare drive in Washington DC created one of the most fascinating conversations I've had behind the wheel. As the host of Rideshare Road Talk, I've met countless interesting passengers, but few compare to this former NASA scientist who persevered for over three decades to fulfill his dream of space travel.

What makes this passenger's story particularly compelling is his remarkable persistence. Despite being colorblind - a condition that initially disqualified him from becoming an astronaut - he never abandoned his space ambitions. For 30 years, he faced rejection after rejection. The Navy wouldn't take him. The Marines declined. Even the Air Force rejected him due to his colorblindness. Many would have given up after facing such consistent rejection, but this passenger embodies the power of perseverance in its purest form.

The conversation revealed fascinating details about space travel that few outside NASA would know. The astronaut explained how orbital mechanics dictate mission timing - it takes four days of orbiting for the Earth to rotate enough to position the landing site in Florida correctly for reentry. His first mission aboard Columbia was meant to last 16 days but was cut short after just four days due to a major malfunction that forced an emergency abort. What's even more remarkable is that just 88 days later, NASA sent him back up for the full 16-day mission as part of a study on how the human body handles repeated space flights in quick succession.

Perhaps the most relatable part of our conversation centered around fear. When asked about the terrifying moments before liftoff, his response was unexpectedly philosophical. Rather than being paralyzed by fear, he found peace in logic: "If God went to all that trouble to put me on the shuttle today just so he could kill me, he's going to get me no matter where I am." This perspective allowed him to actually take a nap during the final countdown, while strapped to what he jokingly described as "four and a half million pounds of explosive built by the low bidder."

The passenger's journey also highlights an important evolution in NASA's astronaut selection process. At age 40, he discovered NASA had created a new class of astronauts that didn't disqualify colorblind candidates - opening a door that had previously been firmly shut. Even then, it took another 16 years of persistence before finally being selected at age 56, proving that dreams don't have expiration dates.

This passenger's story serves as a powerful reminder of what human determination can achieve. In a society often seeking instant gratification, his 30-year pursuit of a seemingly impossible goal stands as testimony to the rewards of unwavering commitment. His mother taught him to be persistent (or as he puts it, "stubborn"), a lesson that ultimately carried him beyond Earth's atmosphere and into the pages of space history.