That Time When a NASA Astronaut’s Photo Went Viral

Retired NASA astronaut Leland Melvin became an instant hit on social media earlier this week after a photo of him and dogs went viral, according to ABC News. Suggested Reading The Root 100 – 2024’s Most Influential African Americans Post #3 6-18-2025 Post #2 6-18-2025 Video will return here when scrolled back into view Stefon…

Retired NASA astronaut Leland Melvin became an instant hit on social media earlier this week after a photo of him and dogs went viral, according to ABC News.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach

Melvin, who retired from NASA last February, according to the space agency, appears in the traditional orange spacesuit worn by astronauts in their official photos, posing alongside his two dogs, Jake and Scout. He tweeted that he smuggled the dogs into NASA for the shoot.

The undated photo of Melvin, 50, was tweeted Wednesday by Adam Aton, a newspaper reporter in Missouri, and has garnered nearly 3,000 retweets and favorites.

https://twitter.com/Astro_Flow/status/560573247587377152

Melvin, 50, won praise earlier for the photo, and he replied with a tweet with another image of the dogs sitting quietly beside him.

Melvin, a veteran of two space flights, was selected by NASA in 1998. Today he hosts a Lifetime series called Child Genius and goes by the Twitter handle @Astro_Flow.

Read more at ABC News.

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