Beginnings and Endings: Lots in Between
May 15, 2011
I’m about to start my seventh week in space.
It will be busy one - with the docking of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the crew of STS-134, and then a few days later, the undocking of the Soyuz spacecraft that will return to Earth with Dima, Paolo and Cady after almost six months in space.
Dima, Cady and Paolo (not shown) practicing for their return to Earth aboard the same Soyuz spacecraft that brought them to space.
During this period of relative calm before the proverbial storm, I'd like to reflect on some of the amazing experiences I’ve been having.
One of my favorite things to do is to look at the Earth at night. It’s hard to describe how beautiful it is to see the sun set, and then the Earth come to life from space. In the period between sunset on the ground and the orbital sunset, it's hard to see anything on the ground. The space station is still bathed in bright sunlight, while the Earth is dark. But when the sun sets behind the Earth from our orbital vantage point, our planet takes on a completely different character. Geographical features become visible, and the lights of cities and towns begin to light up the Earth.
From space, city lights.
One night last week, I turned off all the interior lights near the Cupola, opened the window shutters, and just took in the view.
After my eyes adjusted to the darkness, the Milky Way, planets and countless stars became visible. I floated there for the entire night pass (about 45 minutes), watching the incredible night sky and the living Earth with rolling lightening storms below me. Because of our motion around the Earth, the stars and Milky Way seemed to rotate around us as if we were in a floating planetarium. Seeing a shooting star below me was a special treat near the end of the pass. Since we are above any meteors entering the atmosphere, we see them below us (or more specifically between us and the Earth).
Another interesting aspect of living on the International Space Station is feeling simultaneously more connected and less connected to life on the planet. Living here, I am isolated from my life on Earth. At the same time, events on Earth, such as the flooding of the Mississippi River, offer the opportunity for a unique connection. As we fly over the area, we can see the effects of the swelling river across many states.
Capturing the swollen Mississippi River from space.
We also have some technology to stay connected to home and to you. In addition to an IP (Internet) phone which we can use to call friends and loved ones on Earth, we also have access to the Internet through a remote desktop. Whenever we have the proper satellite communications coverage, I can remotely control a computer located in Houston. This is what enables me to Tweet my experiences in almost real time and to answer your questions. So now you know!
Through our communications technology, I was also able to speak to a team of people in Kenya as they where about to embark on the largest privately funded deployment of clean water systems in the world.
Connected to some of the team in Kakamega, Kenya
It was an incredible experience to talk to a group of people I’m involved with independent of my work with NASA, who are providing clean water to over 4 million Kenyans.
It is wonderful to be able to connect with projects and people making the world a better place, and being able to fly over these areas and see them from this incredible vantage point. All of us on our planet are connected through our shared humanity – even those of us living in space.
The final experience I’ll share in this post is actually a mystery to me. On May 9th, I conducted my first Ham Radio pass from space. The event was with Mt. Carmel Academy in Houston TX. The plan was for me to make initial contact with a Ham operator in Belgium as we flew overhead, who would then patch me over to the school.
As we approached Belgium, I put on the ham radio headset and heard the voice of my close friend and STS-133 crewmember Nicole Stott giving what sounded like a presentation. It turns out that the crew of STS-133 was at that very moment giving the STS-133 post flight presentation at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. I was able to listen for about 5 minutes before I lost that signal. I was also able to make contact with Mt. Carmel Academy, and answer their great questions about life in space. I still don't know how I was able to hear the STS-133 presentation. If anyone has an idea about how that happened, I’d love to hear it!
This is probably my last post as an ISS Expedition 27 crewmember. Expedition 27 will end with the undocking of the crew aboard the Soyuz, and their return to Earth. Then, Expedition 28 begins. In my next post I hope to describe the successful completion of Expedition 27 and STS-134, and the beginning of Expedition 28. Please stay tuned.
Other posts by this author
- To Be Continued ...
- One Young World Summit - The Key Is We
- Moonshot
- Why Should We Spend Money on Space Exploration When We Have So Many Problems Here on Earth?
- Guardians of Earth
- Do 1 Thing Day - July 20, 2012
- The Orbital Perspective of Nicholas Kristof
- An Invitation to Participate in the International Space Apps Challenge
- LAUNCHing Ideas for a Waste-less Tomorrow
- We Get to Carry Each Other
May 15, 2011
sweetgazer 1.
One of the things I was curious about was the stars we could see from there at night. Thanks for commenting.
May 15, 2011
Keith H.
Thanks for keeping us updated!
May 15, 2011
Maria E.
through your comments and post many of us can see the wonder of being in space, your eyes become ours Ron, thanks for sharing!
May 15, 2011
Bryan t.
great words and pics....
May 15, 2011
Patti B.
I love reading your posts and getting your perspective of your experiences. They are like no others. Thanks and look forward to your next one.
May 15, 2011
Peter C.
I have been enjoying all these blog entries and I particularly like the insight they provide into your space adventure. You're doing a great job that goes beyond treating us with marvelous pics from space. Thank you!
May 16, 2011
Victor G.
Good to know there are people like you make possible. Some are sports fans, others are fans of singers. Some are fans of the actors. I'm a fan of astronauts. Although the astronaut Cady touch a flute very well, is not common to hear over and over what astronauts have to say. But it should. I am very pleased with `Fragile Oasis` by providing a communication channel for those who like interesting astronautics. Finally, I congratulate you for volunteer work for those most in need. The playing of life only has grace if you have a good heart. Congratulations!
May 16, 2011
Aaron C.
I'm not sure why, but this post cause a swell of emotions in me. I feel there is more I should be doing in life and with my life. That's Ron...it's posts like these that inspire people like me!
May 16, 2011
Aaron C.
`thanks` not `that's` I must be tired :)
May 16, 2011
Gloria Rhea G.
My response was a similar pit-of-the-stomach one, like that of adcunningham, especially with the City Lights from Space photo. It's a view I'll never see personally, so thank you, bloggernaut Ron, from the bottom of (another organ) my heart for showing us your heart.
May 16, 2011
Gloria Rhea G.
Just thought you may want to know I posted this blog link to former Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau, now Liberal MP in Westmount-Ville de Marie on the island of Montreal, Quebec.
May 16, 2011
Victor G.
I was thinking, Mr Ron Garan. I believe there is enormous potential for water on the planet. Some call it planet water. If we did a gathering of forces of scientific research, experience and exchange of information about the purification of sea water (salt water) we can solve the problem of water shortage. I believe that if there is a real concern of government and scientific community, we can enjoy abundant source of water at a very low cost. Really low. Raw water for no fault on the planet. There is a volume of water in the oceans huge. Make ocean source of drinking water and cheap, I do not think a scientific challenge as complex. Will suffice. And it's important. The growing demand for water on the planet is very big, and we can not let this turn conflicts. Is the extreme example of human ignorance trade water for blood. A government that cares about their safety in water availability need to invest in research to turn salt water into drinking water for people use. It will certainly be cheaper than weapons and lives. I'm thinking of a way to separate salt from water. A simple, inexpensive and efficient. C'mon!
May 17, 2011
Joy G.
It is truly amazing that you can continue your humanitarian efforts while floating through space! You are awesome! :)
May 18, 2011
Karen G.
Thank you so much for creating this blog, Bloggernaut Ron. This is the most amazing blog I have ever seen and your pictures and thoughts are very moving and inspiring. It is a rainy evening in CA and I look forward to trying to find you all in the sky when my 83 year old mom and I are in Kings Canyon National Park soon! (using NASA's tracking app) I hope that this cloud cover clears soon! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! You are in our thoughts and prayers.
May 28, 2011
Rick G.
I love the name of your BLOG. It could also apply to our earth.
Godspeed Ron,
Rick Garel
Canada
June 5, 2011
Luz K.
What amazing pictures. Many thanks for sharing. My students will coment on Monday when they see the background on my laptop.