NASA Rocket Scientist & NFL Star Josh Dobbs Revisits Memorable SpaceX Launch; Admits His Love for Space Dates Back to His Childhood

Veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs had a lot to celebrate after leading the Minnesota Vikings to victory against the Atlanta Falcons. On Monday, he received another reason to smile. Dobbs, who graduated from Tennessee with a degree in aerospace engineering, possesses the qualifications that could potentially make him an astronaut or rocket scientist if he wasn’t pursuing a career in football.

At 28 years old, Dobbs has found his niche on the football field, showcasing both his intellectual prowess and athletic talent in an impressive career that continues to soar. Not long ago, he sat down with NFLPA to express his love for space and share his experience of the SpaceX launch.

Josh Dobbs has always been a space nerd

Since entering the NFL in 2017, Josh Dobbs has impressively balanced his football career with his ongoing pursuit of rocket science. Earlier this year, as the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, he participated in the NFLPA Externship program, spending a month at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This unique experience allowed Dobbs to witness history, as he was on site for the historic SpaceX launch to the International Space Station.

Notably, his love for space dates back to his childhood. He’s always kept his parents alert due to his great appetite for science experiments and math problems. So, in the interview for NFLPA, he also talked about the SpaceX program that he was a part of. Dobbs said, “It was intense. A lot had been building up to that moment, especially with a commercial company launching on US soil and launching live astronauts for the first time in nine years, so it was a very intense moment.”

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He revealed that the Vice President and the President were in attendance for the launch, and it was just phenomenal to see that when a group of human beings actually direct their skills in one direction, there’s nothing that we can’t achieve. Dobbs loves being part of such projects, and as it turns out, even the organizations love having him onboard.

NASA congratulates the Vikings QB on his victory

In a whirlwind transition less than a week after joining the Minnesota Vikings from the Arizona Cardinals, Josh Dobbs stepped into the spotlight. He assumed the role of quarterback for the Vikings after Jaren Hall suffered a concussion during their game against the Falcons. Dobbs made an immediate impact by contributing three total touchdowns.

His remarkable performance included a game-winning touchdown pass to Brandon Powell with just 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Thus, sealing a thrilling 31-28 comeback victory. NASA made a post praising this commendable performance of Dobbs and wrote, “Congratulations @josh_dobbs1 on yesterday’s big win! Looks like you rock(et) on and off the field. We heard you’ve even got a new nickname, the ‘Passtronaut.’ If the suit fits, wear it.”

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Dobbs’ heroic efforts have earned him the expected start in Minnesota’s upcoming Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, signifying the unpredictability and resilience that define the NFL. The fans and NASA both are awaiting for greater things to be delivered from him. What are your thoughts about this? Tell us in the comments section.