GUEST SPEAKER: Captain Jerry Linenger
Ret. United States NAVY Flight Surgeon and NASA Astronaut

Captain Jerry Linenger is a retired US Navy flight surgeon and NASA astronaut. During what has been reported to be one of the most dangerous and dramatic missions in space history, Linenger spent nearly five months aboard the Russian space station Mir.

He faced numerous life-threatening events, including repeated failure of life-support systems, a near-collision between the space station and an incoming re-supply spacecraft and computer failures that sent the space station tumbling uncontrollably through space. As if these problems were not enough, he narrowly survived a raging out-of-control fire that was later described as the most severe fire ever aboard an orbiting spacecraft.

In spite of these challenges, Linenger and his two Russian crewmates accomplished all mission goals: shuttle docking, space walking, a Soyuz fly around and all 120 of the science experiments. In completing the mission, he logged 50 million miles, the equivalent distance of over 110 round trips to the moon, traveling at a speed of nearly 18,000 miles per hour. He was the first American ever to undock from a space station in a Russian Soyuz capsule and the first American to do a spacewalk in a Russian spacesuit. At mission completion, Linenger held the endurance record for the longest time in space for an American man. In 2008, NASA awarded Linenger the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred by NASA, citing his courage and outstanding service to our country. 

To learn more about the Patron Luncheon contact Ambral McCoy at 816.569.4922 or ambral.mccoy@scouting.org.

Investment in Character

The Patron Luncheon is part of the Heart of America Council's annual "Investment In Character" campaign that raises much needed funds to support Scouting in the 19-county area in and around Kansas City. Scouting teaches leadership skills and ethical decision-making. The Heart of America Council serves more than 29,000 young people through the work of more than 15,000 adult volunteers.

Thanks to the generosity of luncheon sponsors, contributions to the Heart of America Council for this event are 100% tax deductible.