Captain Scott D. Altman

Pioneer: A Service Hero

Scott D. Altman (1959), Captain, United States Navy, RET & NASA Astronaut, RET was a pioneering service hero whose career took him out of this world in significant ways. He was also an excellent example of persistence.

When Altman was denied entry to the United States Air Force Academy (because of his height), he promised myself he would still find a way to take flight. Thus, instead of entry into the Air Force Academy, Scott Altman enlisted in the Navy and served as a naval aviator, engineer, test pilot and eventually a NASA Astronaut. Altman knew he wanted to set sail through the skies. He just needed a different outlet.

Born in Lincoln, IL, Scott and his family moved to Pekin, IL when Scott was just a baby. A high school basketball star, Altman graduated from Pekin Community High School and then headed to Champaign to study aeronautical engineering at the University of Illinois. His theory was that he could at least design and engineer airplanes even if he couldn’t fly them. However, when Altman learned that the U.S. Navy had aviators, he was off to flight school after graduation.

Altman’s job as a Navy test pilot, for which he earned several military honors, opened the door for him to become an astronaut. In 1995, Altman reported to Houston and ultimately completed four NASA shuttle missions, logging in more than 50 days in space. Altman retired in 2010 but remains active as an advisor for NASA, NOAA and others. Currently Scott Altman lives in Washington D.C. with his wife and three children for whom he is a role model on not giving up on one’s dreams.

William Hardin

Title Unknown

(Portrait of Scott Altman)

Oil on canvas

Courtesy of Peoria Riverfront Museum