From SEAL to Space: Jonny Kim Embarks on Historic NASA Mission

NEW DELHI, India (AP) — Jonny Kim, a 41-year-old former Navy SEAL and Harvard Medical School graduate, will launch into space today as part of NASA‘s Artemis program. Kim’s extraordinary achievements have made him a symbol of inspiration and pride in the Asian-American community, but they have also sparked feelings of inadequacy among many who admire his accomplishments.

Wesley Chu, a novelist, expressed awe upon learning about Kim, stating, “Thank God my mom is not friends with his mom.” Kim’s remarkable journey has garnered global attention, particularly in the Asian-American community, where he is celebrated as both a hero and a benchmark of success.

Conversations about Kim often include a sense of dismay among peers. Kim’s accomplishments, from being a Navy SEAL to a physician and now an astronaut, create a unique pressure for fellow Asian Americans, many of whom jokingly remark about their own perceived shortcomings in contrast to his resume.

“We accomplished all this stuff, but really, it’s what he did that matters,” Chu said. Comments flooding NASA’s social media reflect similar sentiments, with users expressing hopes that their parents do not compare them to Kim.

Kim himself did not set out with such lofty expectations. He speaks of focus as the key to his success, stating on the Jocko Podcast in 2020, “I had no aspirations to be a physician, an astronaut… you should be all-in on what you’re doing.” His remarkable path has been shaped by life’s unexpected turns, including a college Frisbee injury and a parking ticket job that built his character.

His childhood was marked by trauma, witnessing his father’s destructive behavior, which fueled his desire to protect family members and ultimately led him to serve as a Navy SEAL. After joining SEAL Team Three, Kim served as a medic and sniper, earning a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his bravery in Iraq. These experiences motivated him to pursue medicine.

At the University of San Diego, he tackled financial hurdles by accepting a job that involved handing out parking tickets—a lesson in humility that he shared during his recent podcast appearance.

Kim’s time at Harvard Medical School introduced him to innovative learning techniques such as spaced-repetition learning, allowing him to manage his studies, fatherhood, and fitness within a challenging routine.

While studying, he met Scott Parazynski, an astronaut and physician, who encouraged him to apply for NASA’s astronaut program. Kim did not dream of space travel as a child but saw the opportunity to inspire future generations. He successfully joined NASA on his first application attempt.

Now part of NASA’s Artemis Generation, Kim is preparing for missions beyond Earth, including potential journeys to the moon and Mars. At Kim’s astronaut graduation, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz humorously remarked, “He can kill you and then bring you back to life, and do it all in space.”

Despite his outstanding achievements, for Asian Americans, Kim embodies both pride and a tinge of existential dread, as Chu conveyed: “He’s scored, like, 140% on the life test.”

Currently training for his first space mission, Kim has also cross-trained with the Navy to become a certified pilot. His inaugural journey will begin today in a Soyuz capsule, launching to the International Space Station with two Russian cosmonauts. In a recent press conference, he highlighted the challenge of learning Russian, acknowledging it as a significant hurdle for the mission.

“The hardest part was certainly learning Russian,” Kim said, reflecting on the preparation required for this unprecedented venture.