Astronaut and UC Davis alumnus Stephen Robinson will share tales of his 12-day August shuttle mission when he visits the campus next week, Oct. 14-15. Robinson, a Sacramento native who started working for NASA while still a UC Davis student, graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and mechanical engineering. He went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering at Stanford University. Robinson orbited Earth 189 times aboard the space shuttle Discovery, traveling 4.7 million miles in 284 hours. As a mission specialist, he participated in more than 30 scientific experiments, ranging from Jupiter observations to a plant-growth project for a Minnesota high school. Robinson's itinerary includes stops at the UC Davis Staff Assembly Fall Meeting on Oct. 14 and at Willetts Elementary School -- wearing his space suit -- on Oct. 15. He will be available for interviews on the campus from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 14. Media note: Videotape of Robinson in astronaut training and aboard the shuttle is available.