Driving home from Jacksonville International Airport Friday, I noticed a sign honoring hometown astronaut Norman Thagard. The name drew a blank -- most surviving U.S. astronauts have about the same name recognition as Nobel Prize winners and local Congress representatives, which is sad considering the number of people who could name Joe Millionaire and more than one member of 'N Sync (Evan Marriott, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake).

Thagard, who spent 140 days in space during five missions, has an article in today's New York Times describing the experience of shuttle re-entry.

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