NASA astronaut Leland Melvin spoke to a panel celebrating Black lives in the space industry during the 2020 Virtual Humans to Mars Summit, stating that he was never afraid to go to space, but was fearful during a 1982 police stop. During the opportunity to speak, he addressed the fear he felt that day, stating that he was a student attending college on a scholarship, sharing that “When Black men get into the prison system … they really never get out and have a second chance.” The astronaut encouraged those in attendance to assess both what they’re doing to hurt and how they can help fight racism.
