Table of Contents

Questions from Students for Dr. Dave

1) We have been busy writing our thoughts during the countdown to blast off as if we were astronauts. Of course, we had to imagine what it was like. So we are curious to know what was going through your mind when the crew on Earth were counting down from ten?
(Siwan Powell Williams)

The crew gets into their seats approximately 4 hours prior to launch and we spend most of that time going through the pre-launch checklist. Things are pretty busy but there are a couple of holds built into the countdown timeline that give us an opportunity to think about lift-off and the subsequent mission. The last thing on the pre-launch checklist is to close the visor on you helmet and turn on oxygen to your space suit - this occurs two minutes prior to launch. On STS-90, I was the second flight engineer on the flight deck of Columbia and I had to turn on a voice recorder at T – 2 minutes and by the time I had completed that there were 30 seconds remaining before lift-off. I remember looking out the window at the blue sky thinking that it was a beautiful day for our guests to watch the launch. At T – 15 seconds, I remember thinking that I would soon be sitting on top of a rocket with 7 million pounds of thrust but by the time I had thought about that big "reality check", it was 6 seconds prior to launch and the main engines had ignited. At that point, you can feel the Shuttle shaking - straining against the hold-down bolts until the SRBs ignite at T – 0 and the orbiter lift-off occurs. The main engines start 6 seconds prior to lift-off to allow the computers to check the function of the 3 main engines.

2) How long does it take you to get to the International Space Station in your Space Shuttle, and where is it? (Ffion Jones and Bethan Perry)

We rendezvous and dock with the ISS on the third day of our mission. It could be done on the 2nd flight day but we are very busy on FD2 inspecting the Orbiter tiles. The ISS orbits the earth in a 51 degree inclination orbit at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometres.

3) Could you see the Earth spinning from Space? (Anna Rees and Siân Owen)

The Shuttle orbits the Earth every 90 minutes as we travel at 25 times the speed of sound - roughly 10 Km per second (if you snap your fingers the Shuttle travels around 10 Km in the time it took to snap your fingers). Looking down at the earth, you can see the earth moving quickly beneath the Shuttle. In fact, we see a sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes!

4) What did you see and hear in space? (Hannah Innes and Anna Stenner)

The interior of the Shuttle and ISS has a pressure of 760 mm Hg/14.7 psi, which is the same as it is on earth. The composition of the atmosphere is the same as well: 80% N and 20% O. Other than the absence of gravity, it is like being in the Shuttle simulator on Earth. You can hear all of the radio transmissions from Mission Control on the speaker on the flight deck and the mid-deck. The view out the windows of the Shuttle is incredible!! If we were flying over Wales, you would be able to see Cardiff without any problem. It is fun to look at cities at night with all of their lights. Flying over Africa and South America at night, you can see lightning in storm clouds and fires burning.

5) Have you ever seen something in space that you could not explain what it was?
(Joshua White and Harry Powell)

Not really - on STS-90 I saw a speck of something outside the Shuttle about 6 feet away from the window that turned out to be a piece of ice that most likely came off the external tank.

6) Did you feel worried on your previous journey to the International Space Station and do you feel worried about your next journey? (Joe Paddison and Geraint Evans)

This will be my first trip to the ISS. On my previous flight, we spent 16 days doing research in the Spacelab of the Shuttle looking at how the nervous system adapts to microgravity. Each time we fly in space, we try to identify and mitigate any risks associated with the flight. In the space program, we don't take chances - we manage risk. My biggest worry for STS-118 is remembering everything I have to do and trying not to make a mistake!

7) How did it feel, coming into the atmosphere of Earth after being in Space? (Michael Powdrill)

At the end of your mission, you are pretty tired and it seems that the force of gravity has increased after having lived without feeling gravity for a couple of weeks. I remember moving my arms above my head and thinking that they seemed a lot heavier than I remembered!!

8) Have you always wanted to be an astronaut? (Nia Jones and Carys Williams)

I thought about being an astronaut when I was 7 years old and watched the original NASA astronauts on TV. In those days, Canada did not have a human spaceflight program so I thought it would be impossible to achieve my dream. Fortunately, Canada became one of the space faring nations and I have had a chance to make my dream come true!

9) Did anything go wrong with the shuttle? Has an asteroid or anything else ever hit your shuttle in space? (Holly Dawkes and Jonathon Rainford)

On my first space flight, we had a problem with the carbon dioxide removal system. It was recognized right away and we repaired the system without any difficulties. We also had a small little chip appear in the window of the Shuttle on the Commander's side. It could have been a small piece of MMOD (micro-meteoroid/orbital debris).

10) Is there any rubbish in space? What is it and what will happen to it?
(Aled Herbert and Evan Rees)

Yes, rubbish exists in space. Ultimately, it will re-enter the earth's atmosphere and burn up. Until that happens, there is a risk that it could collide with a satellite or spacecraft. For that reason, international agreements are being put in place about bringing rubbish back to earth. NASA tracks a number of objects in space to make sure that they don't hit the Shuttle or the ISS.

11) Is there any physical requirements that must be met before applying to be an astronaut? Height Weight, can do 20 push ups?

There are no specific requirements from a fitness perspective although astronauts must be physically fit as determined in the selection medical examination. There is no specific requirement for having to do a certain number of sit-ups or push-ups. There are anthropometric requirements governing height based upon the size of suits and spacecraft that astronauts are expected to work in. A good example of this would be the Mercury spacecraft, a small capsule, and the height requirement. The height restriction of the original 7 astronauts was shorter as they had to fit in the spacecraft. This is a good question for students to consider in designing a spacecraft as the larger vehicles require more lift capability.

12) Once you are an astronaut, is there a set physical fitness regime? If so, what would it be?

Once selected as an astronaut wehave an annual fitness assessment that looks at our times to run 1.5 miles, the number of sit-ups and push-ups that can be done in a minute, the number of pull-ups that can be done, the amount of weight we can leg press and finishes with an assessment of flexibility. We have a group of trainers that put together a specific workout for us - this is particularly important if you are an EVA crew member. My EVA workout is made up of an aerobic component and a resistive component. For aerobics I typically run between 16 and 20 miles a week - 4 miles at a time (4-5 workouts per week). After the run I lift weights for around 90 minutes with specific exercies using free weights and machines to maximize overall strength and endurance but with particular attention to the upper extrimities.

13) How does your fitness regime change when you are selected for space flight? Are you monitored? By who? Do you have to do 100 crunches to fit into a spacesuit?

For some they exercise more when selected for a flight, for me I exercise the same amount whether assigned to a flight or not. It is as important to be fit when not assigned as it is when assigned in my opinion. The only monitoring is with the annual fitness assessment and the results are reported to the each astronaut. Real time monitoring is not performed but it is noticeable who is fit and who is not when we train in such a wide range of demanding environments.

14) How much can/ do you run?

I run 4 - 6 miles with a 9 minute mile pace - my approach is for endurance and longevity not speed. For a 53 year old that's not too bad! I lift in sets of 3 with 8 - 15 reps per set. I typically curl 35 - 40 lbs using individual barbells, can bench press my body weight (190 pounds) and leg press 560 lbs. Last annual I did 63 sit-ups in a minute and I think it was around 50-55 pushups. I have absolutely no flexibility but I'm working on it :-)