Former Montpelier resident Scott Phillips will return to Montpelier after over 30 years of working for NASA. On July 17 at 11:00 AM, Phillips will present a model shuttle to the Historical Society at the museum. This will be followed by a book signing at 2:00 PM at the Montpelier Public Library. He, his wife Diane, and his sons will also take part I the parade on July 18.
Phillips’ new book, Remove Before Flight, details Phillips’ his own work with NASA as well as provides information on locally born astronaut Tom Henricks.
“As a ten-year-old boy inspired by fellow Ohioan, Neil Armstrong, when he became the first man to land on the moon in 1969, Scott dreamed of someday becoming part of something larger than himself. Through a series of serendipitous life events, ten years later he found himself the last team member out of the first Space Shuttle External Tank prior to its maiden flight on April 12, 1981. From humble beginnings to an extraordinary 33-year adventure and part of this country’s greatest workforce of the 20th century—from the beginning to the end. He blended his childhood passion for woodworking with his interest in space and created hundreds of world-class one-of-a-kind exotic hardwood Shuttle models which are autographed and owned by astronauts and space enthusiasts. Today his passion is to share his heritage artwork and behind the scenes, first-hand experiences and to keep the flame of inspiration alive through the legacy of the Space Shuttle Program.
Scott Phillips worked on the Space Shuttle Program at the Marshall Space Flight Center for 33 years. He is a motivational speaker, artist, songwriter, woodcrafter, space historian, and space memorabilia collector. He lives in Harvest, Alabama with his wife, Dianne, and two sons, Christian, and Tyler.”
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