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

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