Review Quotes:
Praise for Dinner with an Astronaut

"Dr. Leroy Chiao, born of two cultures and working in two more cultures, describes his career as an astronaut from the inside of NASA's old system of training and flying astronauts--then from the outside, as an observer of our new era of space flying. With a cross-cultural dinner menu as our guide, which includes dumplings, peanut butter, and spam, you'll learn why Leroy wanted to fly. He presents a crisp history of how World War II shaped space travel, and ultimately, his career, which includes a few close calls. Living through a dramatic transition at NASA, Dr. Chiao has insight as to how entrepreneurs, inspired by the old system, but not a product of it, are carrying space-flyers farther and deeper into space (literal new heights). Have we reached a limit? Read on." -- Bill Nye, Science Educator, CEO The Planetary Society

"In the more than two years of traveling the world together training for our first spaceflight, not to mention the fifteen days we shared aboard Space Shuttle Columbia during the STS-65 mission, I have had the privilege of dining with Leroy on hundreds of occasions. Dinner With an Astronaut is the next best thing to dining with Leroy in person. This inspiring and entertaining first-hand account of what it's like in space from one of America's most accomplished space explorers will leave you with a blend of deep satisfaction, contentment, and warmth, as every great meal does."-- Don Thomas, NASA Astronaut, STS-65, 70, 83, 94


"Pull up a seat--Leroy Chiao is serving a behind the scenes story of spaceflight, one course at a time. In Dinner with an Astronaut, the veteran NASA Commander traces the appetite that took him from a childhood dream (seasoned by the grit and perspective of his Chinese heritage) to the razor-edged reality of relentless training, teamwork, and launch day. The Michelin 5 star main dish: what it actually feels like to leave the planet, describes the thunder in your bones, the sudden weightlessness, and the quiet, jaw-dropping moment when Earth stops being a place and becomes a glowing blue world in the window. It's intimate, funny, and surprisingly human--this is a rare seat at the table with someone who has actually left the planet, many times."-- Scott Dulchavsky, Surgeon in Chief, Henry Ford Health

"This is a story of passion, purpose, and persistence, combining to achieve something hypergolic... In these pages, he invites you to pull up a chair, share a meal, and discover how big dreams are built--one question, one story, and one bold step at a time."-- Miles O'Brien, Science Journalist and Filmmaker

"I've shared many dinners with Leroy, and this book feels just like that--smart, fun, and full of real space stories."-- Mike Sandler, CEO of Epiphan Video

"Leroy serves up a delicious insight and a smorgasbord of detail on the recipe for the making of an astronaut, his unique and inspiring story a testament to the value of perseverance in making dreams come true. Dinner with an Astronaut is a must read for anyone wondering what it means to have 'the right stuff!'"-- Andy Turnage, Executive Director of the Association of Space Explorers

• What is the new space race, and who are the next generation of competitors?
• What is NASA working on these days?
• What feelings did you experience looking out at Earth from space?
• What does the future of space exploration look like?
• Will we ever make it to Mars?

Review Citations:

• Booklist 06/01/2026 (EAN 9781335000675, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Chiao, Leroy
Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander. He is a a professional international speaker, and a co-founder and the CEO of OneOrbit, providing keynotes and training to companies and schools. A veteran of four space missions, Dr. Chiao most recently served as Commander and NASA Science Officer of Expedition 10 aboard the International Space Station. He has logged over 229 days in space - over 36 hours of which were spent on spacewalks.


Contributor Bio:Bruce, Victoria
Victoria Bruce is a keen tramper and writer. Her popular social media and blog accounts Adventures with Emilie documented her and her young daughter's journey walking New Zealand's Te Araroa trail.Victoria is a media and communications advisor with a background in journalism and nursing. She has worked for news agencies in Australia and Southeast Asia, including the Australian Associated Press, Myanmar Times and Fairfax's Sydney Morning Herald, and held communications roles with a number of public, private and non-profit organisations.Since completing Te Araroa, Victoria and Emilie continue to escape regularly into the wilderness. Together they love exploring Aotearoa's wild places, learning about the environment and conservation and doing their part to care for our beautiful countryBorn in New Zealand, Victoria grew up in Australia before returning to her country of birth as an adult. She currently lives in the South Island of New Zealand.