Change
Nov. 19, 2012
Well, we are essentially packed – we even put away our Harry Potter glasses…(medical glasses to adjust for ANY vision changes with one pair of glasses). Too bad they look dorky.
Our sleeping bags go in the Soyuz tomorrow and that should be the last of our packing.
It is time to concentrate on the next task at hand – operating, working and riding in our Soyuz. It is amazing how you can automatically re-prioritize – the next task is upon us so the mind set has to change to leaving ISS safely and landing on earth safely. To do this we checked out our Soyuz and fired its thrusters to make sure everything was working and had our last training session with our instructors on descent. It is time to start getting ourselves prepared for the journey. This week I really felt like it was time to change focus. We had some maintenance stuff to do to make sure our ship is in good shape to hand over to Kevin and his crew. They will be here for five weeks as a crew of three, so we wanted to make sure she is in tip top shape.
With the change of command ceremony on Saturday, our time on the ISS has really come to an end and our focus is on descent. Last time I landed in the summer in the desert of California, in a space shuttle. This time it will be winter on the steppes of Kazakhstan in a gumdrop shaped capsule. I have a feeling I already know which one will be bumpier…
The Change of Command Ceremony was fun. I love the fact that we are all up here together from such different places – Yuri from the Ukraine, Aki from Japan, Kevin from Indiana, Oleg from Belarus, Evgeny from Siberia and me from Boston. What a diverse group of people and somehow we all find a common ground and find humor in our daily lives together. Both crews, this one and Expedition 32, have shown that folks from such different lives, perspectives, cultures, religions can easily be really productive when working together. Think of all the possibilities with all the different nationalities, cultures and religions all over the world.
During our ceremony we gave the new crew some gifts to comfort them for the rest of their stay onboard the good ship ISS – Kevin got the Navy command Pennant, Oleg got the honorary Magnum PI shirt (Hawaiian shirt!), and Evgeny got the stuffed Gorby to keep his hippopotamus company.
Finally, we “zapped” the ship with our crew’s patch. Here we are putting it on the US segment. It'ssmartly aligned with 32 other crews that have come before us!
Think about it for a moment:
Where will we be in 10, 25, 50 or 100 years from now? It's hard to imagine, but I can’t wait to find out.
In the meantime, it is time to go home to planet Earth.
From one Earthling to another, I can’t think of a better planet to be from.
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Suni's blog and more also at nasa.gov
Nov. 21, 2012
Manuel C.
Just saw the videos on Video From Space YouTube channel. Glad that you gave us a sneak peak into how is to live on ISS. Glad that you guys are out there making great things (even if some are boring) for us all.
Nov. 22, 2012
Christine T.
Hi Sunny, are the glasses invented for space only or for the good use of all of us bad eyed people? When are they aavailable? Thanks for your letting us know whats new....
Dec. 2, 2012
joel n.
Suni, I saw the pictures of you 3 on the ground and you looked worn out. Please write about returning to gravity, what the physical effects feel like, what kind of rehab you have to do. Also, what is the emotional ride like - I can only speculate; missing the experience in space, glad to be back safe...
One of the things that moves me the most seeing videos of the folks on station is the contacts with family and the obvious camaraderie among the crew.
Also - on the webcam I didn't see the Russian crew members on the US side very often. Is there some kind of unofficial segregation up there?
Anyway - you and the rest who get to go up are an inspiration to me. Look at the pictures of Kevin, Evgeny and Oleg - they look so happy.
Thanks!
Dec. 6, 2012
Angelo F.
Suni
You make space, and being a space scientist so exciting. I teach K-6, and also a class in robotics. I am introducing the ISS to them (following a few weeks on the Mars program). I've got a question on their behalf:
What is the one thing you have found that humans could do in space, to complement the robots you are testing?
(My class has seen 'Robonaut,' and is very curious about how humans and robots interact.)
Feb. 16, 2013
Kara T.
Thank you for your work. Love those adaptive glasses.
March 12, 2013
Rohit S.
Dear Sunita,
We are so proud of you!
I will like to invite you to India to spend a day with the Indian students and inspire them to become the next generation of space explorers.
Please reply asap.
Rohit Sharma
CEO
iMatrix World Wide
+91 93564 97778
March 27, 2013
dung m.
Completely overcome when the asteroid collision with the earth if a combination of the following: (so my english is not good hope you understand):
1. Using electromagnetic propulsion (the principle of operation of an electromagnet), the magnet is attached to the asteroid and spacecraft (the number of ships depending on calculation).
2. Using hydraulics, hydraulic mounted on the spacecraft when it moves close to the asteroid, they will work with any necessary force acting on the asteroid.
3. Attached to the middle of the asteroid that the missiles, but the missiles are only active after they are firmly stuck to the asteroid (the number of calculations), and automatic control.
Note: - 03 to be used at the same time, when it is very far from Earth (in addition can be combined with other methods, if any).
- When push meteorites, we direct them to Jupiter, or Saturn, to take advantage of the gravity of them, to a certain point, moving asteroids that crashed into Jupiter or Saturn, doing so just clean up the meteorite (we have no chance to get back forwards again, and help scientists study the collision), in addition to the space ship can re-use, if meteorites next.
- Is it possible to do experiments at sea before applying them, by we set large ships, to the necessary weight and volume equivalent to the meteorite, then proceed to the combination of doing the same just learn from experience when the manipulation of space (above the basic suggestions, I look forward to working with the scientists to continue the idea and bring peace to our beloved earth . Conec Mr. Dung 01652 396 372 or Email: nguyendung43cb@yahoo.com)