Mothers like to brag on their children’s accomplishments, but I can honestly say my son’s work is out of this world. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the COLBERT treadmill on the International Space Station.
David Chesney of Houston was one of several electrical engineers who helped build a treadmill for astronauts ten years ago. So, when NASA launched Space Shuttle Discovery in April 2009, he watched his pride and joy, a treadmill, fly into outer space. He never thought his two-year project would be named after a comedian.
David grew up in Greenville, TX and graduated from Greenville High School in 2002. After obtaining an electrical engineering degree at Texas A&M University at College Station, he moved to Houston and found his dream job – contracting work with NASA. His first project went literally out of this world. One of two treadmills was built for astronauts at the International Space Station.
In the spring of 2009, NASA held a contest as to what to name the space module. Comedian Steven Colbert, from “The Colbert Report,” got the most votes, because he argued that he won the contest, so the module should be named after him.
“There were a lot of supplies going up in the ship to the International Space Station,” David said. “Out of all the things on the space shuttle, the treadmill was chosen to be named after a comedian. I thought it was funny.”
NASA never names modules after people, but the company compromised and named the treadmill after Colbert. The module was named “Tranquility” after the Apollo 11 moon base.
C.O.L.B.E.R.T. stands for Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill.
“They had to give the initials a name, and I guess that makes sense.” David said. “Whoever thought a comedian would have anything to do with astronauts staying fit in space. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into a clothes’ hanger.”
Space Station Astronaut Karen Nyberg Demonstrates the COLBERT Treadmill 2013
