New York Giants OL Eric Smith and LB Chris Peace spent three days in Houston as part of the NFLPA’s externship program with NASA.
New York Giants offensive lineman Eric Smith and linebacker Chris Peace, who also played together at the University of Virginia, got the experience of a lifetime this offseason.
The pair, as part of the NFLPA’s externship, spent three days in February at the Johnson Space Center in Houston alongside eight other NFL athletes as part of the NASA program.
“When I was a kid, I was always kind of interested in the stars,” Peace said, via ESPN. “Had a telescope, planets and all that stuff. Real big fan of NASA. So why not, given the opportunity? … It was a chance to do something different.”
Both Peace and Smith quickly learned that the planets and stars are only a small fraction of what NASA does.
“When I got there to Houston in NASA, I was completely caught off guard,” Peace said. “I thought we were going to go down there and learn about stars and planets. And we saw a little bit about it. But for the most part, it was kind of like a business internship. When we were down there, we learned about all their technology and worked with their technology side.”
Instead, the two Giants quickly realized a lot of what NASA does is invent, create and build advanced technologies that improve the quality of life for Americans and those all over the world.
“If you were there … and looked at my face, I was in complete shock. I’m like ‘there has to be a catch or something to it.’ What do you mean free technology?” Smith said. “They were like, ‘No, we make ideas and technology for public use. All you have to do is patent it and make it yours.’ Sometimes they don’t even really want credit. They’re just putting out ideas to make everyday life better. I was in shock.”
Smith loved the experience so much he even asked to go to space.
“I was like a kid in a candy store even though I didn’t know I liked space like that,” Smith said. “It took me [getting] a little taste of it. By the time I left, whew!
“I asked to go to space, too. I didn’t sugarcoat it. Anybody can apply to be an astronaut. I think it’s thousands of people that apply.”
Smith and Peace both expect to use what they learned at NASA in life and on the field, and hope to somehow remain involved with the program in the future.
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