What does life after space look like for an astronaut? For Mike Foreman, it looks like community, connection, and continuing to serve — just a little closer to Earth.

Mike is a retired NASA astronaut, a U.S. Navy veteran, and the current Mayor of Friendswood, Texas. Over the course of two Space Shuttle missions — STS-123 and STS-129 — Mike logged more than 637 hours in space and completed five spacewalks (that's over 32 hours working outside the spacecraft!) helping to deliver and assemble parts of the International Space Station (ISS).

Today, he's using those same lessons from space and service to inspire students, encourage future explorers, and remind us that curiosity, teamwork, and resilience aren't just mission-critical in orbit — they matter right here at home, too. In this episode, Mike joins Beth for an open and inspiring conversation about:

How seeing Earth from orbit forever changes your perspective, especially orbiting over Australia
The teamwork behind every NASA mission and why leadership is about trust
How his journey led from Naval test pilot to astronaut to Mayor

Mike's story is one of lifelong curiosity and service — from flying jets and fixing the ISS to leading a city and mentoring the next generation. His message? Never stop learning, serving, or looking up.

About Mike Foreman:

NASA Astronaut (Ret.) – Selected in 1998
Two Space Shuttle Missions: STS-123 (2008) & STS-129 (2009)
Five Spacewalks: 32 hours, 19 minutes total
U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) with more than 7,000 flight hours
Current Role: Mayor of Friendswood, Texas
Motivational Speaker on space, STEM, and leadership

Why You'll Love This Episode:

If you've ever wondered how astronauts translate their experiences beyond NASA — or how one person can move from exploring the cosmos to improving their own community — this conversation will leave you inspired.

Mike reminds us that exploration doesn't end when you come home from space. It just changes direction.

WATCH this episode and more Casual Space Podcast conversations on You Tube! https://www.youtube.com/@casualspacepodcast83

Want to share your story with us, so we can send it to space? The deadline for submitting your original story to STORIES of Space MISSION 03 has been extended! Don't miss this last opportunity to launch your story to space in 2025! www.storiesofspace.com

278: From Spacewalks to Service: Astronaut Mike Foreman on a Career of Service and Exploration