NEW YORK, N.Y., May 19, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Retired pro football player Leland Melvin thought his road to the NFL was an incredible journey – until he climbed aboard the shuttle Atlantis and traveled to outer space. Twice. Melvin, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, engineer and astronaut, shares his real-life experiences, triumphs and challenges in an inspirational memoir. The book: \u201cCHASING SPACE: AN ASTRONAUT\u2019S STORY OF GRIT, GRACE, AND SECOND CHANCES\u201d (ISBN: 978-0062496720; Amistad Hardcover Original).<\/p>\n
![\"Chasing](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/17-0519-chasingspace-600x450.jpg\")
\nLeland, who was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education, and served as co-chair on the White House\u2019s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force penned a version of his book for children, \u201cCHASING SPACE YOUNG READERS\u2019 VERSION.\u201d This version also includes hands-on experiments and activities for boys and girls ages 8-12.<\/p>\n
\u201cCHASING SPACE\u201d is a poignant story of Leland\u2019s personal journey from the end zone to outer space and back. He is the only person in history to have played for the National Football League and serve as mission specialist for two flights aboard the shuttle Atlantis, working on the International Space Station. His remarkable testimony is a must-read for adults and children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more that I thought about it this journey of a skinny Black kid, from a small southern town going to space and with all the other things happening in our country and the world, what better way to tell a story of inspiration, hope and second chances, and doing it in with grace,\u201d says Leland, a native of Lynchburg, Virginia whose parents were longtime educators in the local school system.<\/p>\n
I hope you will consider \u201cCHASING SPACE\u201d and Leland Melvin for review, interview, and feature on debut authors. Social media hashtag: #ChasingSpace.<\/p>\n
In Spring 2018, he will appear in \u201cOne Strange Rock,\u201d a National Geographic Channel event series that explores life on Earth and its rarity in the universe. He was the host of the Lifetime show \u201cChild Genius\u201d and a judge for ABC\u2019s \u201cBattleBots.\u201d He holds four honorary doctorates and has received the NFL Players Association Award of Excellence. He lives in Lynchburg, Virginia.<\/p>\n![\"Leland](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/17-0519-Leland-Melvin-600x450.jpg\")
\nABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong>
\nLeland Melvin, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, engineer and NASA astronaut. He served on the space shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist and was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010. He also served as the co-chair on the White House\u2019s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force, developing the nation\u2019s five-year STEM education plan.<\/p>\n