Anousheh Ansari Space Blog

[kane007]

I know links to this exist in other posts but I thought a seperate thread would be a goer!<br /><br />We could copy & paste from her blog into here. So here goes.<br /><br />Ansari Blog <b>2006/09/26 @2110</b><br /><br /><br /><br />You have probably heard the expression “watching the world go by.” I guess it is usually used in the context of just passing time, relaxing, and not doing anything… just observing… Sort of a state of inaction…<br /><br />For Astronauts this expression has a new meaning…<br /><br />I first heard it from Peggy Whitson and then up here from Jeffrey Williams and Mike LA. For them, it literally means Watching the world go by! As you stare out the window up here you see the Earth slowly rotating in the opposite direction. I guess you could see it both ways… some may see it as if they are stationary on ISS and the Earth is rotating, like I do ;-) — and some may see it as if the Earth is stationary and they are rotating in ISS.<br /><br />The reality is that we are both rotating in the same direction but the space station is going about 20 times faster than Earth so it makes it feel like the Earth is rotating in the opposite direction… Ok enough of that… I guess your head must be spinning now <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />So anyway… When you look out, depending on which window you are looking through, you will get a different perspective on Earth. From the windows in the Service Module (remember this is were we eat ) you can see straight down so you see just the Earth surface with a little curvature at the edges.<br /><br />From the side windows in the little cabins and the docking compartment, where I sleep, you see the complete curvature of the Earth against the dark background of the universe. This view is actually my favorite because you see the “Whole” not the “Parts.” I always like to see the big picture before deciding or worrying about the pieces. I wish the leaders of different

 

[barrykirk]

Wow!!!!<br /><br />I want to buy a ticket!!!<br /><br />Probably won't ever be able to afford one though....<br /><br />But then isn't the dream of the people on this board to make such trips a possibility for the common man?

 

[spacefire]

I think it's her dream too...see the Ansari space prize. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Sounds so relaxing.<br /><br />I had a book once of increadible space pictures and comments from astronauts like Anoush's. It was almost like poetry. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[barrykirk]

Well, she's a hero in my book.

 

[kane007]

Latest Blog.<br /><br /><b>Thank God for Velcro</b> 2006/09/27<br /><br />Being in weightlessness has its wonderful advantages…<br /><br />You can lift a 500 lb block with one hand and move it around with one finger… You can fly and float around instead of walking… you can do somersaults at any age… and you can play with your food.<br /><br />As I have said before, everything is effortless. If you want to move forward you slightly touch a wall or any other solid object with one finger and you start moving in the opposite direction of the force you applied. People are blocking your way in the hallway, no worries, you flip to the ceiling and just like Spiderman crawl the ceiling over their head using the bar handles on the walls (of course you cannot crawl but it looks like you are crawling).<br /><br />You forgot your book at the other side of the module, no problem… you ask someone close to it to send it to you … that means they pick it up and very gently push it toward you, and here it is… your book flying to you all the way from the other side. Your friend is having a candy and you ask if you can have some, so he gently throws a piece your way and it comes flying into your open mouth… (Kids please don’t try any of these in Gravity <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> )<br /><br />In space it is okay to play with your food. The astronauts and cosmonauts all do. The cheese puffs are not put into the mouth by hand, they are slightly jolted out of the container and flown to your mouth. When you open a bag of soft food like yogurt or soup, if you are not really really careful, small yogurt bubbles or soup bubbles start floating around and then you can catch them with your spoon. But if you try to catch them too fast, one bubble hits your spoon and becomes 10 smaller bubbles and now you have to catch ten of them!<br /><br />I truly enjoy weightlessness… You feel like a free spirit. I remember when I was very young, for a long pe

 

[MeteorWayne]

To be honest, I thought this would be a waste, but I was 100% wrong. This is a fascinating perspective on what you and I would be learning as we began to navigate in space (and in the previous, look out the windows, which is of course, the first thing we all would do if given the opportunity). Humans, not astronauts in space. Non of the previous civilians gave this much insight into the human aspects of it.<br /><br />If only the teacher is space thing had not gotten off to a bad start. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Lovely! We need more poets, authors, artists, and muscians in space - and probably dancers too - to capture and communicate the experience<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Especially artists!<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote> <br /><br />I remember everyone being opposed to that N-sync guy going to the ISS <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[kane007]

Last blog from orbit 2006/09/27 @1551<br /><br />Hello World,<br /><br />I’m writing my last blog from orbit. It is a bittersweet feeling…<br /><br />We just finished our last supper in orbit. We had a few fresh tomatoes that we brought up on the Soyuz and had been saving for a special occasion, along with some smoked fish and other usual space food. Jeff Williams, the flight engineer on my return flight, welcomed the Expedition 14 crew and wished them a successful expedition.<br /><br />Misha Tyurin then gave a beautiful speech… I thought he has read my blog because his sentiment echoed what I had been writing about. He talked about how we are people from different countries, backgrounds and cultures and by being here together, working and living together we have established a special bond. He continued, “One day the space station will outlive its useful life and deorbit and burn in the atmosphere but the memories of this trip and our friendship will outlast all of these…”<br /><br />Sting was playing in the background, singing “how fragile we are…” Then Misha told me he had a special surprise for me… He gave me his personal badge, the badge of Cosmonauts and his name tag plus the little Bear that was hanging inside our capsule during liftoff, called “Misha.” You probably saw it in the Liftoff video. He told me “Misha” is the zero G sensor for the trip.<br /><br />His speech and his special gifts were so touching that I could not hold my tears anymore. I had tried all day to keep it all inside and to act as if everything is fine but inside I felt I was losing something special… It is true that you establish a bond up here that is hard to break. For the past 10 days I had trusted my life in the hands of Misha and LA, they had been wonderful and took care of me like their own sister… They have made this trip so incredibly special for me that I’m sure I will never forget them…<br /><br />It is hard for me to write tonight. My

 

[ldyaidan]

Thanks! I've always dreamed of space. Her blogs fill me with wonder, longing, and hope. Godspeed to her and the crew, and hopes for a safe return.<br /><br />Rae

 

[lampblack]

I love this lady. She isn't just a dreamer. Anybody can dream. But she's a dreamer who sets out to bring her dreams into the realm of what's real.<br /><br />She just might do it, too.<br /><br />Godspeed, Anousheh! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[kane007]

Touchdown! Confirmed. 2006/09/29 1313.<br /><br />Welcome home.

 

[barrykirk]

Welcome home!

 

[erioladastra]

A lot can happen in the mean time, but there are rumors/possibilities she could fly again in 2008.

 

[subzero788]

Exactly how wealthy is she?! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[kane007]

<b>The Ride Down<b> 2006/09/30 1536</b></b><br /><br />I’m back on our beautiful Earth, thanks to all of your prayers and positive messages. I’m in Star City in quarantine for the next few days until I get back to DC to launch an exciting chapter in the X Prize Foundation concerning a prize for Genomics.<br /><br />I was told to take it easy and limit my movements but I felt I had to at least tell you all about my ride down while the memory is still fresh in my mind…<br /><br />On the 28th, we had a schedule shift onboard ISS. Our normal wakeup time was 4:00 am but on the 28th, it was moved to 9:00 am. Of course knowing that this would be my last day on ISS, I could not waste it sleeping, but fatigue took over and forced me to take a four-hour nap.<br /><br />I woke up at 5:00 am and got ready to finish the last item on my list, the Educational Experiment video. The rest of the day I had dedicated to just watching the world go by and floating around enjoying weightlessness.<br /><br />It was a difficult day for me and from the moment I opened my eyes I had butterflies in my stomach. I couldn’t tell why, I knew that I was not scared of the landing… so what was it that was giving me this intense anxiety? It was not a pleasant feeling. It is the feeling you get when you are leaving on a long trip, leaving loved ones behind, not knowing when you will be back… It was the same feeling as when I flew out of Iran…<br /><br />My heart was in my throat and I could not stand still. I eat when I’m nervous and before anyone woke up I was scavenging in the Snack containers looking for stuff to eat… It was only 5:30 and Misha graciously had offered to help me with videotaping the demonstrations at 7:00, so I had one and half hours to kill. I kept on eating… Cereal bar… Cookies… Dried fruit… coffee… almonds…. chocolate… Okay, I figured if I continue eating like this I will be in trouble sitting in the capsule for almost 8 hours.<br /><br />Everyon

 

[yevaud]

That image you posted contained nothing whatsoever (no image, nothing), so I have deleted it. Try posting it again? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[kane007]

Wilco!

 

[yevaud]

Goal! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[brellis]

<font color="yellow">We need more poets, authors, artists, and muscians in space</font><br /><br />I would do it in a $20Million heartbeat! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Exactly how wealthy is she?! "<br /><br />I have no idea, but apparently when the prime tourist is pulled at the last minute and you are given an option to fly, your negotiating power is a LOT stronger so she may have gotten a really good deal on this flight.

 

[JonClarke]

Since she was already in training for a trip I she would had the money anyway. As the mission will fly with or without her so she would not have had much to negotiate with.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"Since she was already in training for a trip I she would had the money anyway. As the mission will fly with or without her so she would not have had much to negotiate with. "<br /><br />I would have thought but apparently that was not the case.

 

[spacefire]

hey, like it was said previously, she does more for the <font color="red">cause</font>than the otaku. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>