Ask the Crew: STS-105

From: Paul Bachmann, Chicago, Ill., age: 27
To: Mission Specialist Daniel Barry

Question: How hard is it to sleep in space? Do you have to take some kind of sleep aid? Once you are back home, how long does it take to feel normal again?

Barry: Well, we just woke up, Paul, and I have to say, it's really nice to sleep in space. You can just float in your sleeping bag and float in your clothes, and the whole thing is floating. It's like being on the softest, most comfortable bed you can imagine. Then, when you get back home, it feels like the bed is pushing up so hard on you it's going to throw you up against the ceiling, so it does take about one or two nights of good sleep at home before you're entirely comfortable. So, summary is, it's great to sleep in space.

From: Brian Bradley from Azilda, Ontario, Canada, age: 18
To: Mission Specialist Daniel Barry

Question: Dr. Barry, you performed a space walk on your last mission and had a good look at the exterior of the space station. How has the exterior changed, aside from the added components, since your last visit? Any hints of little hits by space debris, meteorites or anything?

Barry: Well, that's a very good question, Brian, because most of the time I've been talking about how the station has changed in terms of its components, but, in fact, we did notice some differences on parts that have been exposed to space. There was one cold plate - something that cools coolant that runs through it. It looks like a mirror, and I noticed that it had taken a little one-millimeter hole from a piece of debris that was flying around in space. And there are some discolorations and changes from the atomic oxygen that flies up there, so there are indications that the space station has been in space for some time. And it is starting to show some very, very early signs of, at best, exposure.

From: Jason Puddister from Fredricton, Canada, age: 10
To: Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester

Question: Can you see the stars from the station?

Forrester: Well, Jason, you can see the stars very well from the station and from the shuttle. They're quite clear. They don't twinkle. You can see the colors in them mainly because you're not looking through the atmosphere. It's also interesting to note that the galaxy - you can see the Milky Way very clear, and it's just a beautiful sight up here.