When Hoosier-born astronaut Dr. David Wolf found himself trapped in a cold area in outer space, he knew death was looming, but he didn’t lose his focus and stayed calm. He was on a space walk with Russian cosmonauts when, during an airlock malfunction, he found himself locked outside the space station.

With every passing second, oxygen level of Wolf’s space suit was decreasing. Adding to the problem, command on earth wasn’t able to help the astronaut. Wolf was the only one who could find a solution to fix the issue.

With Wolf’s calm mind and his Russian counterpart’s efforts, the glitch was fixed and the astronaut could safely enter the space station. While sharing memories of that moment, Wolf said it was within seconds of death.

Wolf, who has been to space four times, is no longer a NASA astronaut, but he still thinks values that helped him during his space voyages are important. According to him, he applies those values. Today, he is on solid ground and working to improve the way medicines are produced.

“When you’re working on the leading edge, whether that’s at NASA or in the design of new medicines, you’re working in critical businesses at the leading edge. It requires an excellence, a leadership, and also provides an excitement that I like to communicate to groups”, Wolf said.

On Friday, the 59-year-old medical doctor will at the Christmas party for the Senior Promises program at Franciscan St. Francis Health. He will be the keynote speaker there.