John Herrington, the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to travel to space, credits his early days rock climbing in Colorado with preparing him for one of the most demanding tasks an astronaut can face: walking in space. Clinging to the International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth, he found the skills he learned on the cliffs of the Front Range were directly applicable to navigating the zero-gravity environment.
Herrington, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2002. His journey from the mountains of Colorado to the vacuum of space is a story of perseverance, heritage, and a commitment to inspiring future generations.
Key Takeaways
- John Herrington became the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space in 2002.
- He says his experience rock climbing in places like Boulder Canyon and Garden of the Gods directly prepared him for his three spacewalks.
- Herrington's mission on the Space Shuttle Endeavour involved installing a key component of the International Space Station's backbone truss.
- After retiring from NASA, he earned a doctorate in education and now advocates for STEM education among Native American youth.
A Colorado Upbringing
John Herrington's connection to Colorado runs deep. Though born in Oklahoma, his family moved to Colorado Springs when he was just a year old. His childhood was filled with outdoor adventures that shaped his future in unexpected ways.
His family was active in the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society, and they spent weekends four-wheeling near Mount Princeton and hunting for crystals. This early exposure to the state's rugged landscape fostered a love for exploration. Herrington even took his first ski lesson at the Broadmoor at age 10.
After his family moved away, he returned to the state to attend the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). It was during this time he discovered a passion that would later prove invaluable.
From College Dropout to Cliff Surveyor
Herrington's academic journey was not a straight line. He became so engrossed in rock climbing that his studies suffered. "I enjoyed rock climbing because there was always a goal," he explained. "I put more effort into climbing than I did into education and got kicked out of school for low grades my second semester."
His climbing skills, however, landed him a unique job. He worked as a surveyor on the construction of Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon, a project that required navigating treacherous cliffs. This practical experience, combined with his eventual return to UCCS to earn a degree in applied mathematics, set the stage for his next chapter in the U.S. Navy, where he became a distinguished test pilot.
The Final Frontier
In 2002, Herrington blasted off aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-113. The primary goal was to continue the construction of the International Space Station (ISS). As a mission specialist, Herrington's role was critical. He performed three spacewalks, totaling nearly 20 hours outside the spacecraft.
Mission STS-113 By the Numbers
- Total Mission Duration: 13 days, 18 hours, 47 minutes
- Time in Space: Over 330 hours
- Spacewalks by Herrington: 3
- Total Spacewalk Time: 19 hours, 55 minutes
- Distance Traveled: 5.6 million miles
It was during these extravehicular activities (EVAs) that his past as a climber became profoundly relevant. "When you step out of the hatch for the first time, you hang on kind of tight," Herrington recalled. "You realize the tighter you hang on, the more tired you're going to get. And so you hang on very lightly and you move around." This technique of conserving energy and maintaining a light but secure grip was something he had mastered years earlier on Colorado's rock faces.
Carrying Heritage into Orbit
As the first Native American astronaut, Herrington was determined to honor his heritage. He carried several significant items with him into space, including an eagle feather given to him by an elder and a traditional flute crafted by a Cherokee flute maker. These symbols connected his personal achievement to a legacy of exploration and understanding of the natural world that is central to many Indigenous cultures.
His Chickasaw Nation heritage, which comes from his mother's side, was a source of pride throughout his mission and his career.
A New Mission on Earth
Just two months after Herrington's safe return, the space shuttle Columbia tragically broke apart upon re-entry. Herrington was assigned to the recovery effort, a somber task that brought him into contact with Native American fire crews who were assisting in the search for debris.
"They treated every piece of element they found from the shuttle as a living piece. Not an inanimate object, but something they held in great reverence. And I took great pride in working with those folks."
This experience reinforced his connection to his community and influenced his path after leaving NASA. He decided to focus on education, earning a doctorate and dedicating himself to inspiring Native youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Connecting Ancestral Knowledge to Modern Science
In his advocacy work, Herrington often bridges the gap between traditional Indigenous knowledge and modern scientific disciplines. "When I talk to native kids, I like to say that our ancestors were exactly that. They were engineers, they were botanists, they were chemists, they were astronomers," he stated. "They knew the world around them intimately. It's in your DNA."
The Teacher Who Made a Difference
Herrington's belief in the power of education is deeply personal. He often shares the story of his 6th-grade teacher in Colorado Springs, Toodie Royer. When his family was preparing to move to Wyoming, she gave him a bracelet as a farewell gift. The simple gesture left a lasting impact.
He carried that bracelet with him through college, his naval career, and all the way to NASA. "And so when I flew in space, I took it with me," he said. Years later, while receiving an honorary doctorate from UCCS, he invited Ms. Royer to the ceremony.
He told the audience how some teachers change lives not just through lessons, but by how much they care. He then presented her with the bracelet that had traveled 5.6 million miles in space, a powerful tribute to her influence on his life. His advice to others is straightforward: "Don't let anybody tell you you're not capable of doing something."