STEM in 30 - Ask an Astronaut with Randy Bresnik and Paolo Nespoli

TL;DR

Astronauts Randy Bresnik and Paolo Nespoli discuss their experiences in space, including the stress of watching Hurricane Harvey from the International Space Station (ISS) and the difficulties of adjusting to life back on Earth.

Transcript

HI, I'M MARTY. WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE SMITHSONIAN AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> WE WANT TO WELCOME PROVIDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> RANDY BRESNIK AND PAOLO NESPOLI CONDUCTED MORE THAN 60 EXPERIMENTS. >> WE'LL BE TALKING TO BOTH OF THEM TODAY. THIS IS SEVEN IN 30. ♪ ♪ >> THIS IS STEM IN 30. >> WE ARE JOI... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🚀 Astronauts experienced stress and worry while in space, particularly when natural disasters occurred back on Earth.
• 😂 Adjusting to the Earth's gravity after being in space can be physically challenging, especially for the inner ear.
• 💗 Astronauts conduct a wide range of experiments on the ISS, including growing organic matter and studying fluid dynamics.
• 👨‍🚀 The experience of being in space is both exciting and challenging, and astronauts often have to rely on teamwork and problem-solving skills.
• 😘 The ISS serves as a laboratory where astronauts can perform experiments that are not possible on Earth, with the goal of advancing scientific knowledge and benefiting humanity.
• 💪 Astronaut selection requires a strong educational background and expertise in fields such as science, math, and engineering.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the most stressful part of being in space?

Both astronauts mentioned that the most stressful part of their space mission was watching Hurricane Harvey move over Houston while their families were underneath it. They were physically stressed about their families' safety and well-being.

Q: What was the hardest thing to get used to when coming back from space?

Randy Bresnik explained that it took several days for his inner ear to readjust to the Earth's gravity. He struggled with his balance and felt like he was tumbling when he had to move around.

Q: What were some of the experiments you conducted on the ISS?

Randy Bresnik mentioned experiments such as growing lung tissue in microgravity to study potential cures for cancer. Paolo Nespoli discussed an experiment involving zapping muscle groups with electricity to test their capabilities in space.

Q: How does being in the military help prepare someone to become an astronaut?

Randy Bresnik shared that his experience in the Marine Corps taught him about teamwork, depending on others, and working hard to accomplish missions. Paolo Nespoli mentioned that his time in the Army, particularly in the Special Forces, taught him the importance of education, training, and teamwork.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Randy Bresnik and Paolo Nespoli conducted over 60 experiments while aboard the ISS.

• They discussed the stress of watching Hurricane Harvey from space and the challenges of readjusting to life on Earth.

• The astronauts described their favorite experiments, including growing lettuce and studying fluid dynamics in microgravity.