Houston… We have a problem! There’s not enough Kaiser Racing Fans!! Haha! Tell that to Alicia Cox!
![](http://kaiserracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/astronaut-819x1024.jpg)
Astronaut Josh Cassada with Alicia Cox
I got this from Colin McDonald, Kaiser Racing perennial handler and one of Pete’s lifelong friends. His friend Alicia started an Astronaut Fan Club! Now that’s a Fan Club!! GO Team Kaiser!
From Alicia-
Listen up! If you aren’t following along with this years Iditarod race, Astronaut Josh Cassada and I think it’s time you start!!
I grew up in a small rural town in Western Alaska. Pete and I were in the same grade and went to school together from 4th grade on. Pete and 4 other Kuskokwim mushers are competing in this years Iditarod, which is HUGE for our little town.
If you follow Kaiser Racing Kennel on Facebook, you’ll read Colin McDonald’s really excellent race updates and commentary on these mushers and learn how Pete got the nickname “Slippery Pete”.
About 2 years ago, I began working for NASA as part of a team that trains astronauts for spacewalks. That’s how I came to befriend some really amazing folks like Josh who is currently assigned for his first mission to space on Boeing’s second Starliner voyage to the International Space Station! He was excited to take this picture with me today and to cheer on Pete and my other hometown teams before beginning his NBL training for ISS maintenance he will perform during his FIRST SPACEWALK!
The mushers are now just over halfway to the finish line in Nome, so Josh and I thought it was a great time to send a little extra cheer from NASA’s Johnson Space Center as they race towards that Burled Arch!
Go Pete, Richie, Niklas, Jessica, and Victoria!
And if you’re unsure about “Slippery Pete” it is from an old Seinfeld episode: