That dot in the sky was carrying a Friendswood astronaut

Astronaut Nick Hague of Friendswood, left, shown with Christina Koch and Anne McClain, is riding in the International Space Station, which was visible on July 17 as it flew over the Houston area. He was recently joined on the station by fellow Friendswood residents Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano . less Astronaut Nick Hague of Friendswood, left, shown with Christina Koch and Anne McClain, is riding in the International Space Station, which was visible on July 17 as it flew over the Houston area. He was ... more Photo: HANDOUT, Contributor / AFP/Getty Images Photo: HANDOUT, Contributor / AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close That dot in the sky was carrying a Friendswood astronaut 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Friendswood residents had a special reason to glance at the sky last night.

That’s when resident Nick Hague passed over the area riding as an astronaut in the International Space Station, which was visible for about six minutes as a bright dot.

“There were people who went in their backyards last night at 9:23 with their compass pointed toward the southwest and watched the space station fly over,” city spokesperson Jeff Newpher said. “For many, it was the first time they had done that."

MISSION MOON: Houston woman remembers watching Apollo 11 launch from beach in Florida

Hague soon may not be the only person from Friendswood traveling in space. A scheduled July 20 spacecraft launch headed to the space station would carry a multinational crew including another city resident, Andrew Morgan, as well as Luca Parmitano, a member of the European Space Agency who is living in Friendswood while training at Johnson Space Center, Newpher said.

Those on the space station will continue work on experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, according to a NASA press release.

After a 2018 incident in which a Russian spacecraft that would have transported him to the space station was forced to make an emergency landing, Hague told the Chronicle that he explained to his two young sons why what he does as an astronaut is important: “The work we're doing on the space station is for the good of humanity.”

On HoustonChronicle: Apollo 50--Nation celebrates 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 launch

Wednesday’s space station sighting came as Friendswood celebrates its residents’ role in space exploration through events keyed to the first lunar landing that include panel discussions at the Friendswood Library and a July 27 “splashdown” party at Stevenson Park that will include children’s activities including rocket-building and launch sessions from 2:30-6:30 p.m, a classic car show from 4-6 p.m. and a concert with the Fab 5 from 7-9 p.m.

The city’s mayor, Mike Foreman, is a former astronaut. Another resident, retired astronaut Bill McArthur, is saluted in this video.