PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Brig. Gen. Nick Hague, a NASA astronaut and the first U.S. Space Force Guardian to launch into space, visited Peterson Space Force Base on Aug. 12, sharing his experiences and inspiring Guardians and Airmen to embrace the future of space operations.
Hague's visit underscored the Space Force's growing operational presence in space, a realm he knows intimately from his time aboard the International Space Station. As commander of NASA SpaceX Crew-9, he spent more than 170 days in orbit, conducting spacewalks and contributing to scientific research.
During his visit, Hague discussed the challenge of reducing the crew from four down to two to accommodate the return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were unexpectedly delayed in space for nine months.
“In a four-person group, there are two flight leaders, two mission specialist, and you’ve got a commander and a pilot. When we remove two crew commanders, we ended up with a commander/pilot,” Hague said during the Q&A section of his presentation. "So, how do I adapt what we normally do so that I can accomplish everything with just two people? You see it as a challenge. If you find ways to take those changes and embrace those challenges, you’ll be successful.”
Hague shared anecdotes from his training and mission, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, resilience and continuous learning in the challenging environment of space. He conducted 150 unique experiments and logged more than 900 hours of research aboard the orbiting laboratory.
“Probably the biggest experiment that’s on orbit is how do people adapt to living and working in space? What does it do to the body, and we’re still learning,” Hague said.
During his presentation, he highlighted the importance of international cooperation and synergy between NASA's exploration efforts and the Space Force's mission to secure and protect U.S. interests in space.
“The ISS was never assembled on the ground, it took over 100 launches, over a decade to put that together on orbit, and we did that through the cooperation of 15 different countries,” Hague said. “It’s important for us to be in space and the United States is a leader in space. Without the capabilities the Space Force provides, the space station mission really doesn’t happen; weather that’s debris avoidance or keeping us safe during launch, those services are made possible due to the United States Space Force.”
U.S. Space Force Col. Kenneth Klock, commander of Space Base Delta 1, expressed the significance of Hague's visit.
“We have the distinct privilege of learning firsthand about the challenges, triumphs, and future of humanity's ventures beyond our planet from someone who has experienced it firsthand,” Klock said. “He has spent approximately one year orbiting our planet, conducting vital research and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.”
During his visit, Hague engaged with Guardians, Airmen, and their families, answering questions ranging from the challenges of living in microgravity to the strategic future of space. His perspective, bridging the operational realities of Earth-based space units with the experience of human spaceflight, provided insights for those in attendance.
“If I look back through my career, there were lots of opportunities where I failed to meet the mark, but I didn’t give up and kept working. If I can be an example for anybody, I’d like them to look at that aspect of my career and know that life isn’t going to just give things to you, you have to work hard for it and face some adversity. Persistence pays off.”
Hague's recent visit served as a catalyst for inspiration among the guardians and airmen of Space Base Delta 1, reinforcing the Space Force's commitment to securing the critical space domain.