Mike Drop

Scott "Kidd" Poteet is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel and a commercial astronaut. He was the pilot for the Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024, a privately funded human spaceflight operated by SpaceX. Having previously served 18 years in the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel, Scott transitioned to the USAF Thunderbirds as a pilot in Position 4, racking up over 3,200 total flight hours in various aircraft like the F-16 and Alpha Jet, with over 400 combat hours logged. In 2022, Scott was selected as the pilot for SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which launched in September 2024. During the nearly five-day mission, the crew achieved the highest Earth orbit flown by humans since the Apollo program, conducted the first commercial spacewalk, and tested Starlink laser-based communications in space. His journey from a decorated Air Force pilot to a commercial astronaut highlights his dedication to service, teamwork, and pushing the boundaries of aerospace exploration. Subscribe to t