NASA astronaut Michael Fossum highlighted key events about his space travel and the effort that went into preparing for his summer trip in 2006 Wednesday night in the Cullen Performance Hall.
He spoke to an audience of Air Force ROTC cadets and JROTC students from high schools throughout the area, according to a UH press release.
"When I first took off, I could not believe I was in space," Fossum said.
"It’s like you can feel the world turning."
Fossum, a former ROTC cadet, said his involvement with the Air Force opened a number of doors for him.
"When I wanted to go to college, money was an issue. The Air Force ROTC gave me the opportunity to go to college through scholarships," Fossum said. "I got a career’s worth experience in a small amount of time. I loved the entire concept of service. The fact that I know I did my part to protect my great nation; knowing what I did really mattered."
Fossum traveled to space for the first time on July 4, 2006 as a mission specialist for mission STS-121 to the International Space Station where he participated in three spacewalks.
On July 8, Fossum conducted a seven and a half hour spacewalk making a repair to the ISS and testing using the Shuttle’s arm as a platform for making repairs to the Shuttle.
"We prepare at least four to six months to deploy for a mission," Fossum said. "Training to become an astronaut starts in the classroom first and foremost. We carry at least a hundred pounds of procedure books. We have most of it memorized, some (team members) more than others."
Living in space, even for a short time, isn’t easy, Fossum said.
"It’s kind of like camping for two weeks," Fossum said. "Most of the food are either (meals ready to eat) or out of some packets. Using the bathroom is a big challenge as well with no gravity. I lost about seven pounds in space alone."
The view from space is pretty spectacular, he said.
Contrary to popular belief, you cannot see the Great Wall of China from space, but you can see it with binoculars. It’s these moments that make everything worthwhile."
