Alum Dylan Taylor Shares Insight From Trip to Space

Dylan Taylor, who graduated from MSE in 1993, left the Earth's atmosphere in December 2021, becoming one of the few humans to ever experience a flight into space. Taylor recently spoke with the University of Arizona's student newspaper the Daily Wildcat about his time aboard the Blue Origin flight. 

“[It was] totally life changing, and I'm not exaggerating," Taylor said. "I had very high expectations and they were just completely smashed in a positive sense.”

Taylor also described his work preparing for the flight, as well as how his time at UA helped him down the path. 

“Getting the education I did at the UA and having that technical foundation helped me build a career, … which allowed me to have a significant role in the space industry and ultimately allowed me to be on the flight,” Taylor said.

Taylor was one of six crew members, alongside people like Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of the first U.S. astronaut, and former New York Giants player Michael Strahan.

Taylor also recently endowed the $1 million Patrick R. Taylor Endowed Department Leadership Chair in Materials Science and Engineering in honor of his father.