Legendary Lithuanian mountaineer Vladas Vitkauskas showed gratitude to NASA astronaut Karol J. Bobko

Legendary Lithuanian mountaineer Vladas Vitkauskas showed gratitude to NASA astronaut Karol Bobko

Last Friday Lithuanian business, art, science, social leaders have gathered to meet NASA astronaut Karol J. Bobko „Bo“ of Lithuanian descent for a cozy breakfast that was organized by GLL | Global Lithuanian Leaders in a restaurant “Vapiano in Vilnius.

Meeting with a world changing and inspiring personality was moderated by a businessman, lecturer, visionary, scholar, one of the 32 TED Patron’s worldwide Vladas Lašas, PhD. who personally invited Karol J. Bobko „Bo“ to Lithuania. Breakfast was also attended by US Ambassador to Lithuania J.E. Anne E. Derse, legendary mountaineer Vladas Vitkauskas, Vice-rector for Development and International Relations of European Humanitarian University dr. Darius Udrys, and many more global Lithuanian minds. In the breakfast astronaut “Bo” was accompanied by his wife and daughter.

During the breakfast participants heard personal leadership story from NASA astronaut, his career path, discussed on future of space traveling.

“Space exploration is highly important field in USA, European Union, Russia. It changes our world perception and expands human limits. Commercial space travelling is in our nearest future. However it will still take some time to become a daily routine. I would like to encourage Lithuanians to take part in space exploration programs. It would be a real and valuable input into human progress”: encouraged Lithuanian origin astronaut.

“Many Lithuanian scientists, engineers, or pilots have participated in Soviet space programs. Evaluating Lithuanian technological and scientific potential it can be confidently proclaimed that Lithuania can bring a valid contribution to development of space exploration and traveling. Lithuanian software companies known worldwide have already made contracts with NASA. Moreover, Lithuanian laser technologies would be extremely useful to European Space Agency”: US Ambassador to Lithuania J.E. Anne E. Derse expressed her fascination about achievements of Lithuania.

Vladas Vitkauskas legendary mountaineer, first one to raise a Lithuanian flag on the highest peaks o each continens, presented astronaut “Bo” with his book “Everest – my destiny”. He noted that personalities such as Karol J. Bobko „Bo“ inspires to reach impossible in personal life of each of us.

Karol Joseph “Bo” Bobko – one of the NASA space shuttle program’s earliest American commanders of Polish- Lithuanian descent, currently SAIC Program Manager for the Aviation Systems Division’s simulation labs. Bo is an introductee of U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Bo became the first graduate of the Air Force Academy to be selected to train as an astronaut and fly in space. During his 19 years with the astronaut program, Bo logged more than 386 hours in space and flew on three shuttle missions. He served as pilot during the maiden voyage of shuttle Challenger aboard STS-6 in April 1983, as commander of shuttle Discovery aboard STS-51D in April 1985, and as commander during the maiden voyage of shuttle Atlantis aboard STS-51J in October 1985.