# Major Tom

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-tom/49301>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 10, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-tom/49301 "2001-01-10T07:17:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![red1g9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@red1g9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red1g9)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-tom/49301/1 "2001-01-10T07:17:23Z")

</div>

The column on Major Tom (as in the David Bowie songs) was pretty spot on. I have to admit I’d never thought about the song having roots in reality. (Although, of course, the reference to 2001, A Space Oddyssey, is inescapable, and certainly the Russian and U.S. accidents and close calls should have provided gist for more than a few song mills.) I have also heard it said that ‘major tom’ was old time slang for heroin.

Thomas “TK” Major  
[mp3.com/onebluenine](http://mp3.com/onebluenine)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-tom/49301/2 "2001-01-10T07:46:19Z")

</div>

I think you’re referring to this column:

> **[Was "Major Tom" the astronaut a real person?](https://www.straightdope.com/21342658/was-major-tom-the-astronaut-a-real-person)**
>
> A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD

Please always post the link to the column you are referring to.

(I’ve always wanted to do this)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-tom/49301/3 "2001-01-13T18:35:25Z")

</div>

Thanks for the assist Xgemina! I don’t know how I could have overlooked this thread for so long.

Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment.  
Please include a link to the appropriate column if it’s on the straight dope web site.  
To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL).

The relevant Staff Report can be found on-line at the link provided by Xgemina.

Since the article is a mailbag answer, not a Straight Dope column, this thread is leaving the «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)» forum and going to visit my colleague **C K Dexter Haven** in the «[**Comments on Staff Reports or Mailbag Answers**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=6)» forum.

* * *

moderator, «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)»