Astronauts have always been eager to explore beyond the skies, into unknown parts of space. This journey begins with their curiosity to learn more about what lies beyond in space, continues with observations and ends with astronauts having a unique perspective on Earth and the universe.
The third part of a four-part article from Anadolu examines the intricacies and challenges of the astronaut profession and the experience they gain from their travels in space.
In addition to the benefits of being an astronaut, the profession also has a cost. As astronauts witness sights and events that most people can’t even imagine, they also have to make sacrifices in their personal lives.
Astronauts experience moments like seeing the Earth from space, moving in the absence of gravity and discovering the unknown, things that are incredibly precious because of the rare opportunities.
It all started with an interest in sci-fi movies and stars
In a conversation with Anadolu, Japan’s second female astronaut, Naoko Yamazaki, described how her journey to become an astronaut began as a childhood dream, how she became an astronaut, and her missions in space.
After completing her first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010 and retiring from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2011, Yamazaki became the second Japanese woman to travel in space.
The retired astronaut, who spent 15 days, 2 hours and 47 minutes in space, said her dream of becoming an astronaut began as a child, with her interest in sci-fi movies such as Star Wars and Star Trek.
Yamazaki said that as a child, she became interested in the stars, which she would observe to gather information and learn about space.
“I did not imagine becoming an astronaut. When I was 15, Japan’s first three astronauts were chosen, and then the space shuttle launch was, you know, broadcast on TV in Japan. So when I saw the launch of the space shuttle, I was excited and dreamed of becoming an astronaut,” Yamazaki said.
In 1996, she first applied to the astronaut program, but was eliminated due to her lack of work experience. She said she was accepted into the astronaut program on her second try in 1999. After completing her basic training in Japan in 2001, she received a year of training in Russia to become a flight engineer for the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. .
“Once I learned to read, I read everything I could find about space”
Speaking to Anadolu, NASA astronaut Edward Michael Fincke, who has spent 381 days, 15 hours and 11 minutes in space, also emphasized that being an astronaut was his dream profession. He said he has been involved in this profession for 27 years and told how he saw people walking on the moon on television in 1969, when he was just 2 years old.
Reflecting on how his journey began, Fincke said the lunar missions lasted until 1972.
“Wow, that looks interesting. This looks fun. So I always thought of being an astronaut for the rest of my life. I learned how to read so I could read more about space. That’s how I was motivated to learn to read,” said Fincke.
“Earth is dynamic but fragile”
Referring to her surprise when she first saw the Earth from space and how the Earth seemed very active and dynamic, Yamazaki said, “But at the same time, it seemed fragile because the atmosphere layer was so thin, like a thin paper”.
Yamazaki emphasized the importance of preserving the planet, adding that her perspective changed after realizing that Earth has a unique place in the universe.
She emphasized that space exploration increases humanity’s knowledge of space and contributes to a better understanding of the Earth.
“Seeing from space will make you understand more about our home planet, Earth. So I say that space exploration will increase our chance to protect our home planet,” she said.
Yamazaki talked about her experience of reaching space in 8 minutes and 30 seconds and how she felt the power of humanity and nature simultaneously when she looked at Earth for the first time.
“At that moment, depending on the orientation of the spacecraft, I saw the Earth above my head. I was very surprised. I had thought how high I would look at the Earth, but it turned out to be the opposite: I was down and the Earth was up. It was a zero-gravity environment, with no apparent up-and-down motion. The earth was shining in the sunlight, surrounded by shades of blue. The oceans and vast landscapes looked incredibly dynamic and I felt the power of nature. After 45 minutes, I saw the dark side of the Earth under the shadow of the Sun. This time, I could see the lights of the cities. I realized that this also represents the power of humanity and our civilization. We can achieve greater goals if we can harness our collective strength,” she said.
“Seeing Earth from space for the first time is impressive”
The two astronauts from different backgrounds shared nearly identical perceptions of the world and civilization after their experiences in space. Despite their distinct cultural backgrounds, Japanese astronaut Yamazaki and American astronaut Fincke share the same dreams and experienced almost identical feelings during their first journeys into space.
Fincke pointed out that they arrived in space nine minutes after the Soyuz spacecraft took off on its maiden voyage, adding that seeing Earth from space for the first time was emotional and extraordinary.
“It was a dream come true feeling. But it was also a feeling that we have a beautiful planet. And so, in English we have the word ‘breathtaking’. “Because it took my breath away, I couldn’t read because I was so excited,” he said.
Fincke also recounted the reaction of his fellow astronaut, Dutchman Andre Kuipers, when he saw Earth from space for the first time and realized that his dreams had come true. He said that witnessing the happiness of his colleague was even more beautiful.
After completing nine spacewalks, Fincke shared an experience from one of the Russian spacecraft’s journeys into space. He explained that during this mission, they completed their tasks ahead of schedule and still had enough oxygen to stay outside, so mission control asked them to photograph the module. He described his most memorable moment in space.
“So my friend Yuri and I took pictures as best we could. And then it got dark. We went to the dark side of the planet and we couldn’t take any more pictures. So we told mission control in Moscow, tell us, what should we do now? They said well, there is nothing you can do. So, relax and enjoy the view. So we were crossing the dark side of planet earth and we could see the universe above us. It was so beautiful; all the stars were there. And we looked down and I saw Egypt, the Nile River and from there, the Mediterranean Sea and Turkey. This is something I will never forget,” said the astronaut.
“The freedom that a gravity-free environment gives”
The lack of gravity and sailing in outer space is extra fun for astronauts.
Japanese astronaut Yamazaki said she really enjoyed the zero-gravity environment “because I could be free. I was sailing. The ISS is not a very large place. I had patience and felt very comfortable. I can define astronautics as a profession that contains many potentials and opportunities. It can also be defined as the discoverer of potentials and possibilities,” she said.
They found their way through the stars when high technology failed
According to Yamazaki, 90 percent of education on Earth is focused on dealing with unexpected situations in space. In this context, Yamazaki and her team experienced a dangerous incident when the spacecraft’s radar system failed before reaching the ISS. Since the crew could not measure the distance and speed to the destination, they tried to find their direction using traditional methods, mainly the stars.
Fincke also shared his memory of a problem he experienced when he went into space with fellow Russian astronaut Gennady Padalka during the first spacewalk.
“It was my first time going out. It was exciting. But I looked at my suit and my oxygen level started to drop. This shouldn’t be happening, I need oxygen. It should last me eight or 10 hours and it was fading very quickly. I had some leaks somewhere. So I didn’t panic. I checked my system. Everything seemed fine. There were no warnings, lights or information as to why this was happening. So I started to go back in. And then the Russian ground control, they got on the radio and said there’s something wrong with my suit. And we talked for a minute or two. Then they said it’s time to go inside. And I said yes, I’m already headed in that direction. And it was a bit scary… But on the other hand, it wasn’t a big deal. We went back inside and closed the hatch. Turns out there was a sticky valve in my suit. We fixed it and a few days later, we accomplished our mission,” said Fincke.
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