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| Photos added Thursday, December 10, 2009 |
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To everyone who contributed to Share My Space, a big thank you. Your from-the-heart messages were always something to look forward to, sometimes amusing, oftentimes inspiring, and consistently a pleasure to see as I spent six months away from Earth. I hope you enjoyed viewing my space as much I enjoyed seeing yours.
In this final picture my colleagues and I give each other a big group hug shortly before Expedition 21 drew to a close.
It was a successful mission: important science, technology and education initiatives were accomplished for both Canada and the international community, all within the framework of mutual cooperation and respect.
And you, in your way, were a part of it--the first Canadian long-duration mission in space.
Kudos, and keep an eye on the Expedition 20-21 page for news about my upcoming post-flight tour across Canada.
Bye for now. |
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| Photos added Monday, November 30, 2009 |
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| During both Expeditions 20 and 21, my colleagues and I shared a special synergy as we helped usher the International Space Station into full operational capacity. Though I will miss the special bond we developed working as a team, I know we will reunite again on Earth. |
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| Photos added Sunday, November 29, 2009 |
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| Luckily, we have microgravity as a helper. That makes tasks like this rack transfer manageable for one person. |
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| Here I’m performing a rack transfer. Looks like pretty hard work, doesn’t it? |
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| Photos added Saturday, November 28, 2009 |
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| I took this picture from an ISS window. Does that bright object look familiar? Could it be the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle returning to Earth? I believe it is. |
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| Fork versus spoon. The controversy over which is better continues even into the territory of space! |
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| Photos added Thursday, November 26, 2009 |
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| In microgravity, weight is not a factor--as you can see. |
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| There are always plenty of domestic chores to do on the International Space Station. Vacuuming is a must as we can’t have any loose particles getting into our equipment. |
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| Photos added Tuesday, November 24, 2009 |
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| Christmas came early when I unwrapped the new MEIS core hardware. MEIS, Marangoni Experiment in Space, is a Japanese-Canadian experiment designed to study surface-driven convection, called Marangoni Flow, in the near-weightless environment of the International Space Station. |
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| Is it a new form of life on the International Space Station, or Bob Thirsk in a thermal blanket? You decide. |
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| Photos added Sunday, November 22, 2009 |
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| Colleague Roman Romanenko wasn’t interested in having a buzz cut like the rest of the men on Expedition 21. Here he reminds me that scissors are not an option--they are a requirement. |
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| Cosmonaut Maxim Suraev was the first of his crew, which included NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams and Canadian private explorer Guy Laliberté, to enter the International Space Station on Oct 2nd, 2009. |
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| Photos added Friday, November 20, 2009 |
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| Guy Laliberté is greeted with a big hug from cosmonaut Roman Romanenko upon arrival to the International Space Station. |
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| This photo was taken on October 2nd, just as NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, cosmonaut Maxim Suraev and private space explorer--and Canadian--Guy Laliberté entered the station. My enthusiasm reached new levels! |
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| Photos added Tuesday, November 10, 2009 |
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Message recorded by Canadian Astronaut Bob Thirsk to underscore Remembrance Day. The astronaut is wearing a poppy on his flight suit, this poppy was one of the items he brought up as part of his official flying kit.
Watch the video Video WMV (5.1MB) |
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| Photos added Monday, October 26, 2009 |
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| This billowing blaze, set in the mountains near Canmore, Alberta, was photographed from my perch on board the International Space Station. |
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| Things are looking bright for the future of the International Space Station, so naturally, we have to wear shades. With me in the front row, from left to right, is Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka and NASA astronaut Mike Barratt. In the back row, left to right, is NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne. |
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| Photos added Saturday, October 24, 2009 |
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| As an astronaut you like to keep on top of your work, but sometimes the opposite happens! |
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| Guy Laliberté yuks it up in near-weightlessness. He brings a lot of heart and emotion to the International Space Station. It’s been a pleasure sharing the ISS with him. |
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| Photos added Thursday, October 22, 2009 |
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| Guy Laliberté takes a picture with me in between operations on the hardware for the Marangoni Experiment in Space, a study of surface-driven convection in near-weightlessness. |
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