ANKARA
Astronauts have always been eager to explore beyond the skies into the unknown parts of space. This journey starts with their curiosity to find out more about what lies beyond in space, continues with observations and concludes with astronauts having a unique perspective on Earth and the universe.
The third of a four-part feature by Anadolu looks into the intricacies and challenges of the astronaut profession and the experience they gain from their encounters in space.
In addition to the perks of being an astronaut, the profession also comes with a cost. While 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 viewing the Earth from space, floating in weightlessness and discovering the unknown, all incredibly valuable due to rare opportunities.
It started with an interest in sci-fi films and stars
In a conversation with an Anadolu correspondent, Japan’s second female astronaut, Naoko Yamazaki, described how her journey to becoming an astronaut started as a childhood dream, how she became an astronaut, and her space missions.
Participating in 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 to space.
The now retired astronaut, who spent 15 days, 2 hours and 47 minutes in space, said her dream of becoming an astronaut began in her childhood with her interest in sci-fi movies like 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. She recalled her childhood endeavors.
“I didn’t imagine becoming an astronaut. So it was when I was 15 years old, Japan’s first three astronauts were selected, and then the space shuttle launch, but you know, on air on TV in Japan. So when I watched the space shuttle’s launch, I was thrilled, and I dreamed of becoming an astronaut.”
In 1996, Yamazaki applied for the first time to the astronaut program, but she was eliminated due to her lack of job experience. She said she was accepted into the astronaut program on her second attempt in 1999. After completing her basic training in Japan in 2001, she received one 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 in this profession for 27 years and recounted how he saw humans walking on the moon on television in 1969 when he was just 2.
Reflecting on how his journey began, Fincke said that missions to the moon lasted until 1972.
“Wow, that looks interesting. That looks fun. So I was always thinking about becoming an astronaut for the rest of my life. I learned how to read so that I could read more about space. So I was motivated to learn to read.”
The Earth is dynamic yet fragile
Referring to her astonishment when she saw Earth from space for the first time and how the Earth appeared to be very active and dynamic, Yamazaki said: “But at the same time, it seemed fragile because the layer of the atmosphere was so thin, paper thin.”
Yamazaki stressed the importance of preserving the planet, noting the importance of space even before her journeys. Her perspective shifted after she realized that Earth has a unique place in the universe.
She emphasized that space exploration enhances humanity’s knowledge of space and contributes to a better understanding of Earth.
“Looking from space or running about in space will lead you to understand more about our home planet, the Earth. So I say space exploration will enhance our possibility to protect our home planet,” she said.
Yamazaki shared 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. She described her experience with the following words:
“At that moment, depending on the spacecraft’s orientation, I saw the Earth above my head. I was very surprised. I had thought about how high I would be looking at Earth, but it turned out to be the opposite – I was below, and the Earth was above. It was a weightless environment, with no clear up or down. The Earth was shining with the sunlight, surrounded by shades of blue. Oceans and vast landscapes looked incredibly dynamic, and I felt the power of nature. After 45 minutes, I saw Earth’s dark side in the Sun’s shadow. This time, I could see the lights of 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.”
Seeing Earth from space for the first time is breathtaking
The two astronauts with different backgrounds shared almost identical perceptions about 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 emphasized that they reached the area nine minutes after the Soyuz launch on his first trip, and seeing Earth from space for the first time was emotional, thrilling and extraordinary.
“This is a feeling of a dream accomplishment coming true. 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, I couldn’t read because I was very 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 witnessing Kuipers’ happiness was even more beautiful than his own.
Having conducted nine spacewalks, Fincke shared an experience from one of the Russian spacewalks. He explained that during this mission, they completed their tasks ahead of schedule and still had enough oxygen to remain outside, and 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 over the dark side of the planet. And I will tell you that we couldn’t take pictures anymore. So we said mission control center in Moscow, tell us, what should we do now? They said well, there’s nothing you can do. So sit back and enjoy the view. So we were going over the dark side of planet Earth and could see the universe above us. It was so beautiful; all the stars were out there. And we looked down, and I saw Egypt, the Nile River, and from there, the Mediterranean Sea and Türkiye. This is something I will never forget.”
The freedom that a gravity-free environment gives
The absence of gravity and floating in outer space is an added entertainment for astronauts.
Japanese astronaut Yamazaki said she immensely enjoyed the gravity-free environment “because I could be free. I was floating. The ISS is not a very wide place. I was patient and felt very comfortable. I can define astronautics as a profession that contains many potentials and possibilities. It can also be defined as revealing potentials and possibilities,” she said.
They found their way with the stars when high technology didn’t work
According to Yamazaki, 90% of the education on Earth is focused on dealing with unexpected situations in space. In this context, Yamazaki and her team experienced a risky incident when the spacecraft’s radar system failed before they could reach 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 out in space with fellow Russian astronaut Gennady Padalka during the first spacewalk and there was no one left on the ISS.
“And it was my first time to go outside. It was exhilarating. But I looked at my spacesuit, and my oxygen went down. And it’s like, I need the oxygen. It’s not supposed to. It’s supposed to last me eight or 10 hours. And it was decreasing very quickly. I had some leaks somewhere. So I did not panic. I checked my system. Everything looked okay. There were no cautions or warnings or lights or why this was happening. So I started to go back inside. And then the Russian ground control, they got into radio range and said hey, something’s wrong with your spacesuit. And we talked about it for a minute or two. Then they said it’s time to go inside. And I said yes, I’m already headed that way. And it was a little bit scary… But on the other hand, it was not a big deal. We went back inside and closed the hatch. It turns out that there was a sticky valve on my suit. We fixed it. And a few days later, we accomplished our mission.”
