Tom Cruise News: Scientologist Star Secretly Trained As Astronaut? Katie Holmes' Ex Almost Died In Space Mission?

Scientologist star Tom Cruise was in secret training with NASA to become an astronaut. Katie Holmes' ex showed natural flair for the NASA skill and Tom Cruise almost became part of the ill-fated Columbia Space Shuttle mission in 2003.

How Tom Cruise Came By Secret NASA Training 

CBS reports that Tom Cruise was given the NASA training as part of his condition to work on the live action film, "Space Station 3D." The NASA film with writer-director Toni Myers signed Tom Cruise as a voice actor.

In exchange for doing "Space Station 3D," Tom Cruise negotiated actually joining the NASA crew in the Columbia Space Shuttle mission. Tom Cruise would have been able to travel to space if the shuttle had not blown up in mid-air in 2003 killing everyone on board.

Tom Cruise Escapes Death Twice

According to The Sun, NASA's Columbia Space Shuttle was not the first time that Tom Cruise was spared from death. Tom Cruise had also once expressed willingness to pay £130,000 to be able to join the Virgin Galactic space flight by business magnate Sir Richard Branson.

Virgin Galactic space flight, however was no luckier than the Columbia Space Shuttle mission. The 2014 test for the Virgin Galactic space flight was unsuccessful, killing one of the pilots and effectively sparing Tom Cruise one more time.

 According to "Space Station 3D" director Toni Myers, Tom Cruise is a qualified aviation enthusiast. Tom Cruise, in fact, owns a GulfStream IV Jet.

Aviation Enthusiast Tom Cruise Explains View On Space Missions

Tom Cruise is supposedly just as enthusiastic about space and supports NASA research thrust of finding signs of life in other parts of the universe. Speaking about other life forms, Tom Cruise keeps an open mind.

"It might be a little arrogant to think we were the only ones in all the galaxies throughout the universe - but I've never met one!" Tom Cruise reportedly said.

Despite his failed attempt to join the Columbia Space Shuttle mission, his work with NASA on "Space Station 3D" helped make the film a great success. Tom Cruise was at least able to play an astronaut on the big screen with the 2013 film "Oblivion."