Lebanon Native Mike Hopkins, NASA Astronaut, Announces Retirement

A man from Lebanon, and an Ozarks legend, is retiring as an astronaut for NASA.

Mike Hopkins worked as an astronaut for 14 years, which included over 330 days spent in outer space.

Hopkins was born and raised near Richland, Missouri, but graduated from School of the Osage. After high school, he received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois and his Master’s from Stanford University.

He retired from NASA on May 1. His last mission was as commander of SpaceX Crew-1 in 2020.

Hopkins was selected as an astronaut for NASA in 2009.