Tingle, who graduated with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1988, is expected to complete a six-month mission there.

The path to becoming an astronaut wasn’t without its challenges, however.

“I applied to the Astronaut Corps several times,” recalls Tingle. With his engineering background and test pilot experience, he seemed like a shoo-in. But after three unsuccessful applications, he was 40-something and married with three kids. Becoming an astronaut seemed to be an improbable pipe dream. Tingle sent in his fourth application, and in 2009 was selected to join that year’s astronaut class.

“It’s very humbling,” says Tingle, “and such an honor to realize that I’m actually part of this community.”

And it wasn’t just the NASA community that embraced him. “When I was finally selected, it was [Purdue astronauts] Drew Feustel and Jerry Ross who were the first to really put their arms around me and welcome me to the club!”

And that club is numerous, as he learned just how many Purdue grads are working in every corner of the aerospace industry. As Tingle says, “you can’t swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Boilermaker. Going to Purdue was the single best professional decision I’ve ever made in my life.”