6:30pm EST, Friday February 12th, 2027

In-person at the Loosemore Auditorium on GVSU's City Campus

What does it take to become an astronaut, and how does seeing Earth from space change the way you view our world?

Former NASA astronaut Linda Godwin shares her personal journey from a young student growing up in southeast Missouri, fascinated by the early human space program and science to flying aboard the Space Shuttle on four missions. Along the way, she describes the challenges, unexpected opportunities, excitement, and rewards of becoming an astronaut, as well as the extraordinary experience of living and working in space.

Using stories and images from her missions, she explores the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and learning to work with people from different backgrounds to accomplish seemingly impossible goals.

She also reflects on the powerful perspective gained from seeing Earth from orbit—a beautiful, fragile planet without visible national borders—and what that experience can teach us about our shared future.

Her message is that extraordinary journeys often begin with ordinary opportunities, and that each of us has a role in shaping the world we share.