Posted on March 3, 2014 by Tim Peake
“At 600km above planet earth the temperature fluctuates between +258 and -148 degrees Fahrenheit. There is nothing to carry sound – no air pressure, no oxygen. Life in space is impossible…” I am reminded of the opening...
Posted on June 5, 2013 by Samantha Cristoforetti
What does the typical day of an astronaut in training for a space mission look like? This is one of the most common questions I am asked. Do I have an answer? Not really. Let’s talk about...
Posted on May 28, 2012 by Samantha Cristoforetti
Most astronauts dream of having the opportunity to perform a spacewalk at least once in their career and I am no exception to that rule. There’s something appealing about the idea of leaving behind the relative safety of the Space Station wearing your own little spaceship, about the thought of driving bolts while oceans and continents majestically pass by, about the challenge presented by the most physically and mentally demanding activity ISS crewmembers are confronted with. There are also specific risks inherent to a spacewalk and one of the most dreaded scenarios involves a spacewalker going unconscious due to a medical issue or a malfunction of the pressurized suit. Over 150 spacewalks...