Bob Jacobs

We mourn the passing of Patrick Stewart, who inspired countless individuals at NASA (and beyond) to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Reid Wiseman @Astro_Reid is about to become the Deputy Director at @NASAJPL Update: jpl.nasa.gov/news/caltech-na…

SIR PATRICK STEWART (1940-2026) Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love. We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions. My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in 'Star Trek'. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk—getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”. Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did for not just his devoted Trekkies but film and theatre audiences, who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes ('X-Men' of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway. America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin. But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire. His farewell performance in 'Avengers: Doomsday' is yet to be seen. Ian McKellen 29 October 2026 Photo: University of Huddersfield

I am mid-flight right now and I have just received the news that Sir Patrick Stewart has left us. Modern technology is both an impressive and an extremely cold thing. Internet databases have already begun referring to him in the past tense. “Sir Patrick Stewart was…” and such a surreal sight hangs heavy on my heart. Patrick was a friend. Not a close one, mind you, but it was a friendship, an “acquaintanceship” perhaps, that spanned more than half my life. Ann Cook Calhoun was an extremely well published and well known Shakespeare scholar who also happened to be a dear friend of my family. A better way of describing our relationship is that she became something of a fairy godmother to me, taking an early interest in my education, both financially and academically. Ann and Patrick had been dear friends for many years (since their mutual involvements with the Royal Shakespeare Company) and she often told me that I reminded her of a young Patrick. Of course, I always thought the comment was her way of being encouraging. Once, when I was attending the graduate Acting program at Columbia University, Ann came to New York with my parents and took us all to see Patrick play Prospero in a Broadway production of “The Tempest”. That was the beginning of my association with Patrick and, in that one evening, I saw what an artist and a professional truly looked like. Flash many years forward, and you can imagine our mutual surprise at finding ourselves in the very small club of Enterprise Captains. Just… I’m not sure there’s another word for it but “bonkers”. Every time we saw one another, Patrick and I couldn’t help but marvel at this strange serendipity and how Ann, God rest her soul, would have been over the moon at this kismet. While I always thought that Ann had just been doing me a favor, I eventually realized that she really had seen something in me that would, for whatever reason, prove a connection to her dearest old friend. God, I loved her. Like I say, I didn’t know Patrick incredibly well, but I always knew him to be generous and gracious to a fault. Our first time appearing together as captains was at the network up-fronts in New York. I had arrived late because of my production schedule so I didn’t get to rehearse our bit on stage before we walked out to the lights and cue cards. Of course, I completely missed my mark and had to adjust which made the entire audience laugh. Patrick held his opening line, looked at me and made a gesture as if to say, “You good?” I nodded vigorously, which seemed to elicit another laugh and he nodded back as if to say, “Alright then.” Patrick had presence, generosity and good grace to spare, and along with an incredible intellect, he brought those qualities not only to Jean Luc, but into a lived integrity that made him an exemplar for lost, young actors looking for a way. I’ll always love him for it. I’m just sorry that was our one and only moment on stage together. Even our turn together in “Dr Strange” was pieced together in post. Why? Because he was shooting Star Trek: Picard” and they couldn’t get him off the set. Jean Luc was if not his first love, his deepest. Oh well. Perhaps in the next play, in the next theater, he’ll hold a small, nameless roll for me and I will carry that spear with delight. Bravo, Patrick. I will miss you dearly. Until next time… Engage.

What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.

Still making tracks and doing science! Since breaking the all-time off-world driving distance record on Oct. 11, Perseverance has continued work on the Red Planet.  ½

“It was the greatest adventure that four humans can ever go on.” Hear from emeritus astronaut Reid Wiseman and astronaut Christina Koch as they reflect on the Artemis II mission on the latest episode of Houston We Have a Podcast. Take a listen: go.nasa.gov/4euAvmn

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2026. Roman continues its journey in space to its final orbit, completing critical milestones along the way. We expect first images by early 2027. go.nasa.gov/4yQuwkb

“We had to find a way and we did. Looking back, we were the luckiest people in the world; there was no choice but to be pioneers.” —Margaret Hamilton Rest in peace, Margaret. Your trailblazing work leading the development of the on-board flight software for the Apollo spacecraft will forever be remembered. 🫡

Some things never change. I always enjoy working with @whoisheartbreak! 6 years of missions under our belts — late nights, early mornings, a lot of laughter. Pretty cool to grow up in the world of human spaceflight together.

Splashdown confirmed. Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the first orbital flight of Starship!