Leland Melvin, born February 15, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia, is an African-American astronaut and a veteran of two space shuttle flights. He graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Chemistry!
He was recruited by the Detroit Lions in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL Draft as a wide receiver but pulled a hamstring during training and was released.
Melvin was selected as an astronaut in 1998 and flew on his first mission in February 2008 on Atlantis (STS-122) as mission specialist to the International Space Station.
His second was aboard Atlantis (STS-129) in November 2009 as mission specialist to the ISS.
He retired from NASA in February 2014.
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