South Australian NASA astronaut Andy Thomas reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis

One of Adelaide’s favourite sons says he suspected something was wrong for a long time before a visit to the doctor “that came as a relief”.

Former NASA astronaut Andy Thomas, one of South Australia’s favourite sons, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Speaking from his home in Houston, Texas, Dr Thomas told the Sunday Mail the recent diagnosis was not a great surprise because the symptoms had been building for some time.

“I had my suspicions, so I went to see a specialist and a radiological scan confirmed the diagnosis,” Dr Thomas said.

“Strangely, there is some sense of relief at finally having the answers.”

Dr Thomas said the next steps were to work out how to minimise the consequences of the disease.

“I refuse to say ‘I’m battling Parkinson’s disease’, because this is a battle that cannot be won,” he said.

Andy Thomas

SA astronaut Dr Andrew (Andy) Thomas inside space shuttle Endeavour.

“But that does not mean I’m giving in to the disease because that would also mean it wins. It is better to accept the diagnosis and take steps to minimise its consequences.

“I’ve just got to work out what those steps are for me.” 

Born and raised in Adelaide, Dr Thomas, 69, studied a PhD in mechanical engineering at Adelaide University before moving to the US to work in aerodynamics research at Lockheed Martin.

He was accepted into NASA’s astronaut corps in 1993, flying four missions over 12 years and logging more than 177 days in space.

His 22-year career at NASA included a 6½-hour space walk to install cables and equipment on the outside of the International Space Station during its early construction phase, and a lengthy stint aboard the Mir space station, which required learning Russian and 12 months of training in cosmonaut systems and technology.

In 2005, he married fellow NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, who recently returned from her second long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.

Dr Andy Thomas.

With his mother still living in Adelaide, Dr Thomas has remained a regular visitor to South Australia and a leading advocate for the development of an Australian space industry.

In 2018, he turned his hand to filmmaking, presenting and narrating the television documentary The Greatest Air Race in honour of his childhood heroes Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith and their Vickers Vimy biplane at Adelaide Airport.

Dr Thomas said an initial effect of the disease had been his ability to participate in social events but he was keen to get back to Adelaide as soon as the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions would allow.

“That’s definitely the plan and has been since the pandemic began,” he said.

Dr Thomas’s former NASA colleague, Michael Richard “Rich” Clifford, went into space in 1996 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and later said: “Everyone with PD handles it differently. Don’t let it get in the way of living. Life is too good. Remember, keep going – the sky’s the limit.”

Dr Thomas agreed.

“Rich said it well – except for the fact that flying in space teaches you that even the sky is not necessarily the limit,” he said.