ISS Crew Answers: Expedition Five

From: Sue Hickerson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Age: 55

Question: Are you always drifting through the air, or can you just hang in one spot in the air? And if you can hang in one spot, does any movement on your part start you drifting again, or how do you get floating again?

Whitson: I did an experiment to see if while I was floating, completely still, if I could change my position simply by blowing out. It worked! I started to rotate around my center of gravity.

From: Michael P. Gell, Ticknall Village, U.K., Age: 53

Question: How do you write things down? A ballpoint pen needs gravity. So, do you use a pencil?

Whitson: We have a lot of felt tip pins and pencils, but you are correct, the ballpoint pens don't work all that well.

From: Nancy DeWitt, Ketchikan, Alaska, Age: N/A

Question: I have noticed your orbit takes you over Mount Etna. Can you see the eruption from your vantage point?

Whitson: Yes, we have seen Mount Etna, and Valery got some great photos. I imagine they are on the NASA Web site by now.