Why a Former Astronaut Was 5’13” vs 6'1"

Tested member Ian Rigby wondered about the process of fitting a spacesuit, including whether astronauts need to maintain a certain weight, and our good friend former astronaut Mike Massimino (who is not the astronaut referred to in the video title, by the way) was all too happy to answer! This concludes our series of Adam Savage interviews with Mike ... for now (like you all, we hope to have him back some time!).
Moonshot by Mike Massimino: amzn.to/46JUQgR
Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.
There Are No Pictures of Neil Armstrong on the Moon: • There Are No Pictures ...
How Mike Massimino Turned Three No's From NASA Into a YES: • How Former Astronaut M...
In Space, No One Can … Lift Their Arms? • In Space, No One Can …...
Adam Savage's NASA ACES Spacesuit Replica: • Adam Savage's NASA ACE...
Adam Savage Incognito at New York Comic Con! • Adam Savage Incognito ...
Subscribe for more videos (and click the bell for notifications): kzbin.info_c...
Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks:
/ @tested
Tested and Adam Savage Ts, stickers, (de) merit badges and more: tested-store.com
About Tested: www.tested.com/about
TikTok: / testedcom
Instagram: / testedcom
Twitter: / testedcom
Facebook: / testedcom
Discord: / discord
Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/adamsavage...
Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!

[@tested]

Moonshot by Mike Massimino: amzn.to/46JUQgR Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here. There Are No Pictures of Neil Armstrong on the Moon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXq9nHqnmpabmqM How Mike Massimino Turned Three No's From NASA Into a YES: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmfIl6ecea9snLM In Space, No One Can … Lift Their Arms? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGLHioJmmceZrqs Adam Savage's NASA ACES Spacesuit Replica: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6uqp5ylhcRglas Adam Savage Incognito at New York Comic Con! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHPTdoaXaMakq9k

[@shadowofchaos8932]

Mass is looking good. I watched his episodes on BBT and he has aged well!

[@andrewthehope]

Personally I’m 5’ 8” but after seeing this I’ll start describing my height as 6’ -4”

[@falxonPSN]

No one will question it, if you say it confidently.

[@darrylday30]

Me too

[@heathhoughtling5926]

4’25”😂

[@ThioJoe]

I was about to make a similar comment 💀

[@davidgodfrey880]

I’ve been saying I’m 4’ 30” for years

[@pizzarune5]

I think these interviews with Mike are some of the most fun things on this channel in a while. He’s great, and Adam’s own curiosity about the space program blend together wonderfully. I’d love to see him back on the channel in the future after this run of videos. Do a one-day build with him for some nasa prop!

[@cliffloyd5557]

Love Mike. Would watch him on anything, he was the reason I watched the NASA channel before he left to go teach. Glad he is back in public more. Can't wait to read his new book. Spaceman was amazing

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

The 5'13" story reminds me of the story about how when the astronauts for Apollo were being fitted for the condom-sleeve that allowed them to urinate while in their suits, the sizes for the condom-sleeve were "small, medium and large". But no matter what the astronauts' actual dimensions were, no one wanted to say they were a "small". So, they made no changes to the condom-sleeve itself but merely changed the names to "large, huge and gigantic" and then suddenly the previously "small" one fit just fine. Here's a bit from an Apollo documentary about the space suit called "Moon Machines": kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX3MfKJjiNCnb5Isi=WxSv_yZJHTTdagfP&t=1020 By the way, "Moon Machines" is one of the very best series on the machines and devices that were invented for Apollo I have ever seen. They did six episodes and they're all excellent. You can periodically find them on KZbin (before they're taken off): kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKTcl5ispaxgZ7c

[@Absaalookemensch]

There's a joke about Stalin coming to the US on an official function. He asks Truman for condoms as he forgot some and his wife and him are in the mood. Truman has Secret Service get some, but Truman has Secret Service get the largest ones made and has them label Small.

[@permabearxbt]

astronauts don't really have that ego, that story has been known to be joke that people afterwards thought to be real

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@permabearxbtYou're probably right, but it's still damn funny.

[@permabearxbt]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere true

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@permabearxbtThis got me to thinking, so I watched the video above and the part where that bit is mentioned has been removed! I had to watch the DVD episode that I have to make sure I wasn't imagining things and sure enough, they're different. It could be that that bit was removed for the TV broadcast because of its sensitive subject matter or because they found out later that, like you said, it wasn't actually true.

[@rlfmichigan]

I had a friend girl that didn't like being 6'0''. Her state issued driver's license actually read 5'12"

[@paulstan9828]

I enjoy the interviews with Mike Massimino. He seems like a very down to earth person who did extraordinary things but doesn’t take himself to seriously.

[@AnonymousAnarchist2]

"they" say going to space puts things in a perspective that is far more broad and vast then any of us Earth bound civvies could emulate. I say "they" because I read that in an article that reffered to a non-discript supposed phycological study supposedily covering this... with no apperant citations to said study. HOWEVER a lot of astronauts have said seeing earth from so high up was a deeply humbling experience so its plausable. I just do not trust pop science to be more than pulp fiction.

[@Mr_Rouge]

_"He seems like a very down to earth person"_ Althought he obviously did his best to be not so *down* to Earth :)

[@acheyawachtel9409]

Easier to be down to earth when actually get off of it

[@mateostenberg]

To be fair, they tend to choose astronauts that are the right mix between physicality, of course technical knowhow, and importantly charisma and an ability to work in a team. You don't want to be stuck with an aloof asshole for 3+ weeks straight. I'm sure they save those guys for the control room.

[@jeromethiel4323]

The best of the best of the few and the proud! Bonus internet points to anybody who knows that quote. And no googling, that'd be cheating... ^-^

[@preiter20]

I can't get enough of the stories Mike has. Thanks Adam!

[@tadhall1215]

Worlds first Stand Up Comedian + Astronut. You are the best Sir! Thank you Mike!

[@SWS50000]

I could listen to these conversations for hours. So awesome.

[@cliffguthrie7530]

Really enjoy these discussions with Mike. Thanks!

[@ibanezleftyclub]

Mike is the best! I would love to see you two tour the Air and Space museum together, for hours.

[@imspartacvs]

Such great interviews with Mike Thoroughly enjoying them He's such a nice guy. Thanks for sharing -Matt- Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

[@itbe]

These have been awesome! I could listen to Mass talk all day. Love his stories, his humor, and his perspective on may things. Such a down to earth guy, for an astronaut. (I can't be the first to say that.) Hope you have more with him!

[@Vickie-Bligh]

What awesome stories. Thanks, Mike, for sharing this and making the fun of space accessible for us all.

[@Merennulli]

I always love these stories of the earlier eras of NASA. It's such a different world from what we were told and it's wonderful to see the human side of my childhood heroes. The 5'13" thing reminded me of something from my late childhood. My father had conferences once a year and took us along for a family vacation either before or after the conference. Sometime in the late 90s we went to an interactive science display in a museum and they had a demonstration of a laser measuring device that looked a bit like a metal detector. You walk through it and a recorded voice reads out your height. It was very impressive for the time, and we were all going through it thinking how cool this technology was... I was right at 6 feet at the time apparently, because it read out loud "5 feet, 12 inches". There was a pause where everyone around the machine fell silent wondering if they actually heard what they just heard, then we all started laughing.

[@leemarsh3569]

These interviews are baller. Mike looks like an awesome guy to hang with

[@andrewparkin4036]

Mike massimino has a way of talking that makes it all interesting, i could listen to him talk about space and his career all day long, plus those little anecdotes 😂 thanks Adam for having this legend on, just brilliant.

[@jimmaurer8361]

As soon as I hear Mike's voice, I instantly think "Froot Loops!"

That was right around where I dropped off from the series

[@LostButMakingGoodTime]

Most entertaining guest ever award. One of those guys that just has a natural story-telling talent. Along with a huge brain of course. Tough to beat that combination. Thanks to Adam and Mike!!! (Birds of a feather. 😁)

[@corrinastanley125]

I love these interviews, thanks Tested team.

[@jondoef]

Mike is awesome!

[@nathkrupa3463]

Great video sir

[@conradgittins4476]

Such a great story teller.

[@SocksAndPuppets]

They have a height restriction because they don't want the astronaut to take up too much space.

[@rundown132]

And food and water requirements lol

[@freighter1097]

@@rundown132 That one was a little over your head wasn't it? They don't want the astronaut to take up too much SPACE.

[@rizizum]

@@freighter1097 And food and water requirements lol

[@mlee6050]

If anything height restrictions save money to as can bulk make same size suit than multiple sizes

[@Criticalhitkoala]

Stellar pun btw. I gave you a thumbs up.

[@NLGeebee]

Mike seems like an awesome character to hang out with!

[@tested]

Can confirm

[@Cosmo-Cosmost]

I really like these interview videos, super interesting!

[@adamwebb2212]

great interview, I read Spaceman a while back and like it, I'll have to check this one out too!

[@BlueOceanBelow]

The fact that astronauts bring tackle in case they have to fish is awesome.

[@mrfoodarama]

Mike seems like such a fun good dude, really enjoyed these

[@beaverc2884]

I could listen to Mike talk about his experiences for days. 😊

[@peckenstein]

Fascinating!

[@wolfenman1013]

It's pretty telling how underinformed I am where I hear the name "Guy Gardner" and think of DC Comics.

[@thehikingviking2049]

I had the same reaction. It's such an iconic name that it can be forgiven, like if some renowned scientist was named Bruce Wayne.

[@wolfenman1013]

​@thehikingviking2049 Its just such a fascinating coincidence, especially considering the nature of the Lanterns, if the character wasn't from the 60s if have assumed he was named after this guy.

[@larrybud]

I could listen to Mike all day.

[@Raptorman0909]

These interviews with Mike Massimino are just great -- NASA types are not always the best interviews but Mike is a regular guy, a regular guy that went to space...

[@Blowinshiddup]

I was the opposite end of the scale- at 5'2", and 115lbs, I was too small for the ejection seat in the CF-18 Hornet. Ironically I was PERFECT for the T-33, but was never able to get a ride... one regret of my air force career.

[@allensanders5535]

I wish mike would bring his show back I loved watching his show.

[@melaniehefner948]

Absolutely the best!

[@RunstarHomer]

"You had some motivation to cut back on the pasta." Man, I love this guy. A bona fide I-talian New Yorker. My dad and his brothers were raised on the east coast, and the way Mike talks reminds me so much of them.

[@TwoWheeledHepkat]

I could listen to Mike’s stories for hours.

[@cedarstuff]

Mike is what is known as "good value". Absolutely great character.

[@uoobwatcher]

I could listen to Mike’s stories all day.

[@HunterReport]

Funny tales. Great storytelling. Great cinematics.

[@justins2024]

I have always told people I am 4’28” as a joke. It always gets a funny reaction from people

[@wolf986]

I've enjoyed listening to Mike since he appeared on the early live Star Talks. But I cant NOT hear Teddy from Bobs Burgers :D

[@lennydee3538]

Is he a Rodney Dangerfield voice actor?

[@johnrobinson4445]

Heinlein would be proud of Adam: "Have Spacesuit Will Travel".

[@Xelbiuj_1988]

I can't imagine anything more motivating to lose/maintain weight than being an astronaut.

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Unrelated to vid, hearin Adam call himself a Completist rather than the word i hear more often Completionist, instantly made my brain think... "Heh, The Completionist did such incred wrong that he ruined the word completionist; we're completists now" xD

[@kevinlucas8437]

Mike's seems to be a really cool guy !!!!

[@CarboniteDreamer]

i so want adam to go through astronaut training and get to go up at least once. i know hes been to an undisclosed height but i think he should be allowed to go outer atmosphere.

[@alanhutchins5916]

MM…..One of coolest Astronauts out there….

[@graceweber1265]

I need a full 2 hours of these two sharing stories🥰

[@edwelndiobel1567]

Hes so fun and nice.

[@philopharynx7910]

I trust that if it came down to it, astronauts stranded would figure out a way to survive no matter what gear they ended up with. Resilience and ingenuity are needed in space and they'd use it on the ground or in the water.

[@simmy077]

Why did Mike stop doing his podcast? It was great! Bring it back!

[@sygad1]

I love stories like this, they were totally made different in that era

[@trackinggod8087]

My grandfather showed me Sputnik in the sky when I was 6. I lived and breathed space ever after. I was crushed when I found out that astronauts could not be over 6 ft. I topped out at 6ft 3 in.

[@Jon_Flys_RC]

Allegedly that was Cici Williams on the original Apollo 12 crew who was too tall and jumped up and down to make himself shorter before a physical.

[@bbb462cid]

This guy's good. So Mike's career paths were- Astronaut Game show host Comedian Astronaut would be the only one were you can sideline in the other two!

[@delscott480]

Can we have more of this? Thank you.

[@zachmoyer1849]

they said this is the last one unfortunately

[@neilevenden3481]

I have noticed that the astronauts are fully suited for launches, but not for landings (i.e. no helmet). Can you explain why?

[@IMRROcom]

When people asked me how tall I them, I used to tell them 5' 13" with my sneakers on. Now that I'm almost 57 I seem to have miss placed 1". If anyone can figure out where it when, can you help me find it again? Thanks in advance.

[@sector7g930]

Could listen to this guy talk all day long.

[@beamstalk6475]

my dad was in the military and they measured his height as 5'17" - he always laughed at that

[@tested]

Ha!

[@theunpopularcuber9554]

My great grandfather always told the story of how a relative of his got into the military with a height of 5'11"

[@uchihasasuke7436]

What's wrong with that @@theunpopularcuber9554

[@user-zn7if5vq7m]

@@theunpopularcuber9554that’s a normal height lol

[@theunpopularcuber9554]

@@user-zn7if5vq7m I don't know how I made that error, it was supposed to be 5'15"

[@RichardHopkinsLobosSolos]

Ok, at certain conventions, there's a panel called either "No kidding there I was." or the kidding is replaced with a certain expletive. It has authors that have been in certain professions before. It started out with military, but it's been expanded to law enforcement and I've even seen one paramedic in there. The panel is always late at night (Dragon Con has it at around 10:30 or 11:00) and the panelists take turns telling stories like this. I've been to one where Lawdog tells the Pink Gorilla Suit story, which is hilarious to read and even funnier in person.

[@bazil7330]

i really like this guy :)

[@tested]

Right???!!!

[@austinmozer4638]

2:26 So he wore Guy Gardner's suit, aka a green lantern ring.

[@jeremymacdonald6687]

Guy gardener really ( green lantern ) I suppose DC had to get the name from some where.

[@19TheChaosWarrior79]

Astronauts are cut from a different cloth. Amazing humans.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Astronaut Tracy Caldwell is back on the ISS on her third mission. You can really see her confidence and exuberance in what she does.

[@jakemeyer8188]

It took him just 8 minutes and 22 seconds of casual conversation to surpass any level of awesome I would ever hope to achieve in the entirety of my lifetime.

[@vivalacrash66]

This dude said Guy Gardner 🤣🤣🤣 the green lantern

[@somestuff3872]

1:15 literally Subnautica plot

[@iDrewDC]

Mike sounds like if Fozzy Bear in the best way

[@PaulFlude]

My brother took off his shoes and slouched to fit within a 6'4' flying height limit.

[@BaldMancTwat]

It's weird that the only reason I know this guy is an astronaut is because of The Big Bang Theory. But even though the show is fictional, you can still tell he's a real astronaut.

[@Punkie83]

I love Mike 😂

[@Mattie0602]

I am from Europe, it took me a while to understand the title of this video.

[@jesperwall839]

Yeah, imperial measurements are just stupid 😂

[@Mattie0602]

Just different. When I did get it the joke was arguably twice as funny. Because I understood the joke but also why I didnt to begin with. @@jesperwall839

[@iabervon]

5'13" in metric is one hundred and seventy-fifteen centimeters.

[@zero11010]

2:28 the green lantern?

[@ericthompson3982]

I will forever remember him deciding on Big Bang Theory that Walowtitz's nickname is now "Froot Loops."

[@pyrotempestwing]

I’m 6 foot half an inch. For years now, I have been referring to myself as 5 foot 12 1/2 because it’s easier to say.

[@antonliakhovitch8306]

How about "Six point five feet" or "Six and a half feet"?

[@wastelanddv8062]

Guy Gardner? He had green lanterns space suit.

[@MichaelJasper920]

Looked this up, the DC character design based on actor Martin Milner and a name derived from Guy H. Lillian III, a fan of the comic, and writer Gardner Fox. I was kinda hoping there was a connection between the character and the astronaut but it’s just a coincidence.

[@chrise1645]

​@@MichaelJasper920thank you for doing it so we didn't have to 🫡

[@colemanbubar5098]

I've been describing myself as 5'17" for years

[@TrueNomadSkies]

Yeah, lets just no sell the Guy Gardner name drop hahah.

[@F0rtuneLT]

2:27 it took me a minute to process that he was, in fact, not talking about the Green Lantern

[@soleenzo893]

Today i Learned 1foot = 12 inches lol. i waz scratching my head for a moment there with the 5'13"" thing.. xD what a crazy measurement system lol

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

I'm proudly 5'12"

[@ZorenToo]

Me too! 😂

[@DIREWOLFx75]

"didn't want people as tall as you was" And an anime studio went and made a whole series based on the idea of sticking with minimal weight crew. "Rocket girls" is a surprisingly good anime actually.

[@trynda1701]

From Mikes' story about an emergency evac from a landed Space Shuttle, the unnamed astronaut obviously had eaten too many Fruit Loops! 😂😂😂😂

[@DuncanJimmy]

The 212 lb weight limit intrigues me, as that comes to 96 kg, and 100 kg is the threshold max. for all sorts of other physical activities, e.g. tandem sky-diving, bungee-jumping, many treadmills, electric scooters, trampolines, etc. Put simply, you break a century, you're busted.

[@dracolique]

Yeah when I went tandem skydiving at 19 years old I was 210lbs.. barely made the limit. Never went enough times to get solo certified, and I'm 285 lbs now, so I guess I probably never will.

[@Cyrax89721]

3:54 "He said he compressed his spine with jumping jacks" .... EXCUSE ME?!?

[@Billy...]

Franklin Square Represent!!!!

[@codename495]

Next jerk that says “ wow you’re a tall lady! You’ve gotta be at least 6” right?!” Nope! 5’12”

[@scottnj2503]

That's funny. A friend of mine was measured during Naval Aircrew Candidate School in 1979 @ 5'3.5" in later afternoon. The Flight Surgeon told him to got to barracks, lay down til a.m., then report to Sickbay first thing in a.m.. My friend measured 5'4". Point being we shrink during the day and are at our tallest first thing in a.m. My friend passed and went on to become a successful career Naval Aircrewmen. p.s. I'm a foot taller and ended up struggling with quals to fly back seat in TA-4J. Ironic :)

[@cheesier5153]

Any dc comics fan just got a MASSIVE grin on their face after finding out there was an astronaut named Guy Gardener

[@lev3k]

"Manager that realky wanted to fly" makes me thinj Deke Slayton. But he said another country.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Mike, one of the last humans to visit the Hubble telescope.

[@friedrichmuller2416]

5’ 13”: Tiny 6’ 1”: Chad height

[@BigInjun05]

I too am 5 foot 13

[@JustMichiganDave]

I replayed that bit a couple of times, did I somehow miss or it or does he not say which astronaut was the 5'-13" guy?

[@GeneCash]

Oh heck no, he's not gonna name names!

[@kiwiruna9077]

@@GeneCash C.C Williams a group 3 Astronaut was over the height limit and did that to get under the limit, unfortunately was killed before he flew.

[@bluegizmo1983]

Because him's don't maths so good! 😂