KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- So, what's harder, steering a space shuttle or out-machoing Tom Cruise on the set of "Top Gun"? Scott Altman is commander of the current space shuttle mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. Scott Altman laughs when he answers the question. "Flying a space shuttle is a little more challenging than what we did in the movie, although the flying was a lot of fun," said Altman, who knows more than a little about both. The retired Navy F-14 fighter pilot is the commander of the current space shuttle Atlantis mission to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. He also doubled for the actors, including Cruise, during the Southern California shoot of the 1986 hit movie.
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Ex-fighter pilot Scott Altman is commander of space shuttle Atlantis mission
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As a young pilot, Altman was a stunt double in the 1986 hit movie "Top Gun"
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Altman worked with several actors on the film, including star Tom Cruise
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Altman on Cruise: "He enjoyed flying. He listened to what we told him"
@placeholder, for example, was very motivated," recalled Altman, who is making his fourth trip into space this week.