Friends

Friends, do you know who is this charming girl on the photo? The famous American astronaut, obviously. Her name is Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper . She twice was in space. She is Ukrainian by birth, knows the language and even ate real Ukrainian borscht in the native village of her father in Lviv region.

Heidemarie was born on the 7th of February, 1963 in the United States in St. Paul. Her father – was s Ukrainian Stefanyshin Michael, mother - German Adelheyda. From childhood, she was a member of Plast in the US, went to camps reservoirs, sang Ukrainian songs. In 1980, she graduated from high school Deram Gol High School, later - joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, received a diploma in mechanical engineering. In 1985 she entered the Navy United States: was trained in underwater rescue and center of operations of the Navy (Panama City, FL), was named captain of the Navy United States.

Troops gave Heidemarie not only excellent skills and experience, but also a husband - Glen Piper. They were married - the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The couple have a son, Michael.

Heidemarie became the astronaut on the 1st of May, 1996, as a candidate for the flight in the mission. After two years, she finished training and was admitted to the Department of astronauts of NASA. Her first flight took place in 2003. But a catastrophe of the shuttle "Columbia" was the reason to transfer flight several times. To the space Heidemarie flight on the 9th of September 2006. Her first flight lasted 11 days 19 hours 6 minutes and 35 seconds. She could not see father’s homeland – because it was too cloudy. Instead, she easily found the Black Sea, the Dnieper and Kyiv. In addition, in the spacecraft there were Ukrainian symbols, and Heidemarie often listened to favorite Ukrainian songs.

Soon Heidemarie saw Ukraine with their own eyes, not from outer space – on the 29th of January 2007 she arrived for a visit. In Lviv, in the villages Yakimov and New Yarychiv her relatives live. She has 16 cousins! In addition, she met with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and was awarded the Order of Princess Olha for Merit to Ukraine.

Next space flight took place a year later - in November 2008. Then Heidi Maria became part of the crew of shuttle "Endeavor".

Friends! Your origins and traditions always need to be honored and remembered. This makes us who we really are. Roots makes us stronger and that helps in life. Story of Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper is a good example and a great success story.