Astronaut Mike Massimino Orbits 'The Big Bang Theory'

Mike Massimino

Howard will get some real space cred on Thursday's episode of The Big Bang Theory.

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NASA astronaut Mike Massimino guest stars as himself in the installment that features Simon Helberg's alter ego inch closer to his spring launch to the International Space Station as a payload specialist.

In the episode, Howard will not-so-modestly show off a press release that notes his participation in the voyage -- and his quest to earn a nickname from his fellow astronauts, including Massimino.

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"Astronauts cannot pick their nicknames and can only get their nicknames from other astronauts," Massimino tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Any astronaut who tries to give himself a cool nickname will regret it by getting just the opposite from his astronaut friends."

Massimino -- a veteran of two space shuttle missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope -- says that he was a fan of the show before booking the cameo gig and notes that Howard's cleverness would make him a "great person to fly with in space."

As for what NASA thinks of Howard's antics on the series -- which include a designing a (malfunctioning) space toilet -- Massimino says they're "very supportive" of the show and appreciate the references to NASA and science. "Everyone loves Howard's shenanigans."

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While he may not offer advice to Howard on his astro-nickname, Massimino suggests the character keep in touch with his mother and fiancé -- via email, Videocon and Space Station telephone -- while in space. "Or else coming back to Earth might be difficult since he will get an earful," he says.

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on CBS. Watch a preview below.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit