Packing for Earth
Nov. 16, 2012
Now it is time to start thinking about coming home. Up to this point I haven’t, and sort of denied it. I am still in denial, but I am going through the motions because I don’t want to forget something when the hatch closes…so we are preparing.
Space is just really cool. I love it here, just like most folks who get to come here. It is just so cool how we adapt and become so comfortable up here. You can be standing one moment and with just a little effort, flip upside down and be hanging – “look ma, no hands!” It is just an amazing place to be. Not to mention the view…why would anyone want to leave?
Hawaii!
So, you might ask, what do you have to pack? It is a little like the airlines, we do have a baggage limit, but slightly less – only 1.5 kg in the Soyuz. That is like 3.5 lbs., so not much. We all brought that much personal stuff up here, so we know pretty much how much we can take back – essentially the same stuff we brought up comes back down with us in the Soyuz.
We don’t pack our clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. That stuff is all here when we arrive. Even our special shirts and cargo pants are waiting here for us. But, this is our personal stuff, so no one else will want it.
I have worn essentially one pair of pants this entire trip, and one pair of shorts. We don’t get “dirty” up here with dirt, but we are working on equipment, and sometimes little stains get on your clothes. Additionally, we don’t do laundry up here – we just get new stuff and “throw away” the old stuff. We don’t need to change our clothes as much as we do on the ground – not anyone up here to impress, and “smell-o-vision” has not been invented yet. Just kidding.
So, back to packing – I have some stuff, like my yoyo, my crew notebook with pictures, my specialty t-shirts I had sent up, my family photo album. It’s funny that your life actually boils down to these little things – really, think about it. Not much more is really important than the people (animals included), places and memories you have!
Last week was busy…and of course it was fun because we are in space! It doesn’t get better than that, even when all your computers don’t work and the toilet gets really broken…
Being high tech, we have tried to go paperless as much as possible up here on the ISS. This is great, and GREEN, but everything sort of comes to a screeching halt when the computer system, which provides you with all the information about your schedule and activities, dies. This happened bright and early one morning and put a little damper on our activities.
Luckily enough, all the workout equipment kept on plugging along for the most part, so we were able to buy back a little time by working out for a while, while the computer guys on the ground worked their magic on our systems. It took the better part of the day, with a little help from us, for them to reload the hard drives of two of our main servers. We do the hardware stuff and they can do all the software configurations from the ground. It is interesting to see how vulnerable we are to these types of problems. I know the folks on the ground were scrambling to get all of our systems working again.
The big thing that was not working quite right last week was the toilet. We changed out practically every part in that thing system. The KTO, or solid waste function of our toilet, was working fine. It was just really the urine processing part. We really need to make sure the right balance of urine to chemicals is put into the system to make sure the downstream components, which turn the urine back into drinking water, don’t fail. As a result, the water valves, all plumbing, two sensors and finally the water pump were all changed out. In the meantime – we used the Russian toilet – all six of us using one toilet is rough!
Aki, Yuri and I fit in our Sokol (space) suits and our Soyuz.
In Russian Sokol launch and entry sui in the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft
You know we grow up here so there is always a question about if we will really fit. In space your spine expands so you grow. The cartilage between the vertebrae doesn’t have the pressure of gravity on it, so it expands and hence, you grow. I did notice this when we were getting our suits on. I had to lengthen all the straps to get my head thru the opening. It was a little tight, but all worked out fine.
Another impression I had was wow – that Soyuz is small. It felt big when we flew up here and even roomy. But now, after living in this “grand hotel,” it seems tiny! Actually, after I nestled my way into my seat – you don’t just sit in space, you have to get held down, and that seat is actually like being in the fetal position, so you have to tighten your belts, nestle down, tighten some more, nestled down, until you are all the way in there – it felt pretty good. Of course, your knees are in your chest.
Regardless of these strange sensations, the Soyuz automatically felt like home. We all know what we need to do in there – the training is that good I think – that you don’t really think too much about it. You just know what to do.
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Suni's blog and more also at nasa.gov
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Bloggernaut
Suni Williams
NASA astronaut. United States Navy Officer. Dog Lover. Recently returned to Earth after a 6 month mission to the International Space Station
Other posts by this author
- Change
- Turning Over A New Leaf
- Space is Busy, Active and Unkind
- Every Person Knows The Name Neil Armstrong
- Mixed Bag
- Laboratory In Space
- Spidernauts!
- Jack of All Trades
- Agat is Up. Hair is Down.
Nov. 16, 2012
Austin V.
I knew that you were still not accepting the fact that party time is over when I didn't see your blog for over two months! LOL
Come back safe and God Speed!
Nov. 16, 2012
Arun s.
Alla the very best for your return....May god bless you...
Nov. 17, 2012
Dianne F.
Have a safe return. Thank you for all your hard work. Space is so cool and Earth is a beautiful planet.
Nov. 17, 2012
beth b.
Welcome home Suni!!
Nov. 17, 2012
Dana H.
As you prepare to head home, I want to thank you for touching the lives of 1000's of Flagler County students who attended the ARISS event held at Indian Trails Middle School yesterday, November 16th or watched the live-stream version that was broadcasted throughout the district. Your perspectives on Life in Space enthralled a packed gymnasium into 10 historical minutes of silence----an amazing feat in that the radio contact occurred during the last periods of a school day prior to Thanksgiving vacation!
Being the teacher of Brendan, an 8th grader seated at the radio just before we lost contact with the ISS, I am compelled to share his story. Often it is the teacher's role to inspire students; however, it was this young man's love of space that inspired me throughout the planning stages of this spectacular event. Over the past 8 months, Brendan has grown into a true leader among his classmates and the community. Upon learning that the ARISS contact was a “go”, he took actions to spear-head an ARISS astronomy club at ITMS and also initiated a year-long service-learning project in which he teaches lessons about space and STEM to other classrooms. His interactions with the members of Palm Coast Radio Club as well as the Palm Coast Astronomy Club were vital to the overall success of yesterday’s radio contact with the ISS. Once dubbed a “space geek” among his peers, his breadth of knowledge of and enthusiasm for the NASA space program has earned him a high level of respect throughout our school and community.
Up until the day before the contact, Brendan was listed on our school’s script as being the first to speak as well as the student who would end the contact with a closing remark. In a news interview prior to the event, Brendan shared that he wants to be a flight director for NASA and said, “I am speaking to these astronauts, and maybe one day, they will be superiors or retired, and I don’t think they will, but if they could remember my name somewhere, it could be an in.”
Through an unfortunate miscommunication, the student order was changed on NASA’s final script, moving Brendan’s question towards the end of contact. In response to this twist of fate, Brendan’s classmates, family members, and teachers gasped when the radio contact went dead and opportunity for Brendan’s voice to travel though space to the ISS was lost. Brendan, a student ambassador for the ARISS contact, was fully aware that this might happen. With a stiff upper lip, he recited his question anyway for the audience-- just as we had practiced for the past 4 weeks. Understating his disappointment at missing his chance to talk to the ISS, Brendan later told a reporter that it didn't dampen the importance of the brief conversation with space. In light of his resilient enthusiasm for the space program, I am confident that Brendan’s ambitions will not be deterred by the moments that barred him from his dream.
Always know, Commander Williams that your work truly serves to inspire Brendan, along with a generation of scholars enrolled in the Flagler County School District. As the future of space exploration propels forward, perhaps you will someday recall Brendan, NASA Flight Director, as the name behind one of the few voices that went unheard on November 16th. Thank you, once again, for the incredible experience that you presented to our students. We wish you a safe return to Earth next week!
Sincerely,
Dana Hausen
Teacher of Science & Service Learning
Indian Trails Middle School
Palm Coast, Florida 32137
Nov. 18, 2012
Elyse David
Dana, Thank you so much for sharing this. I heard the audio feed, and gasped myself at the suddenly lost signal. Brendan's poise under pressure immediately afterward was just amazing. I suspect we will hear his voice quite a bit - perhaps all the way to Mars and beyond.
Nov. 18, 2012
beth b.
Dana, give Brendan a huge space hug from us at NASA HQ in DC. We need the Brendan's of this world to create a compelling vision for our future endeavors. I'm sure this is just the beginning of space opportunities for him -- perhaps as a NASA intern at some point over the next five years. And thanks to YOU for creating a thirst for knowledge with the leaders of tomorrow. Space is all about breaking down barriers to the unknowns of this universe -- i.e. knowledge itself. As a teacher, you broker in knowledge. You're on the front lines of creating our future! Space helmets off to you and Brendan!! :)
Nov. 18, 2012
Ron G.
Dana, Please send my best to Brendan and all the Flagler Co. students. We're looking forward to Brendan and other great students from Flagler Co. joining the NASA team!
Nov. 17, 2012
Yoshimitsu K.
I think about foods.
Nov. 17, 2012
Martha R.
Thank you for all your work and the fantastic pictures you gave us.
I hope you are home in time for Thanksgiving.
Stay safe and God Speed Suni :-)
Nov. 19, 2012
Sukhpreet P.
Good luck...come back home safely!
Nov. 21, 2012
Arvind y.
Good to know abt the problems which arises in the space and abt its constrains. I wish I could get a guide who would trained me for some mission in the space.
Nov. 25, 2012
John M.
Absolutely fantastic to get all this "inside information" about this space mission. I wish I could participate in something like this. I am so interested in the geology of Mars and other planets and I watch intently all the reports coming back from Mars--fabulous information. So interesting to get all this info from your blogs. laserweightlossblog.com JM.