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Astronaut misses home

Yearns for Earth, John Taylor grad Thirsk tells students

By: Nick Martin

Posted: 11/5/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Grade 12 student Cameron Baydock asks his question to astronaut Dr. Bob Thirsk on board the International Space Station. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Orbiting the Earth at eight kilometres per second, Dr. Bob Thirsk laughed as he said he really misses snow.

Seriously.

The things a high school student can learn when she asks an astronaut.

John Taylor Collegiate Grade 10 student Faith Keep asked John Taylor Collegiate grad Thirsk what he misses most while he's on the International Space Station.

His wife and three kids, said Thirsk from outer space, but he really misses nature. "I miss the wind on my face, the smell of flowers. You're going to laugh at this, but I miss winter, the crunch of snow on my boots," said Thirsk.

Of course, most students can't just pick up the phone or text Thirsk and his crewmates in space.

Principal Scott Lockhart said teacher Rick Wiebe began filing applications to NASA last school year and has been working weekends sorting out all the arrangements. Wednesday morning, seven science keeners in grades 9 to 12 anxiously awaited their eight-minute communications window as the space station flew above the Pacific, connected to Thirsk through an amateur radio club operator in middle-of-the-night Honolulu.

Grade 9 student Hunter Lavallee wanted to know what space feels like.

"It feels surreal, it feels magical," said Thirsk. "It takes a different way of operating in a weightless environment," but it also allows him to fly like Superman.

Grade 12 student Jordan Doe asked the importance of the discovery of water on the moon. That's major for colonies and longer flights, said Thirsk: "Water is a wonderful substance to use as the source for oxygen, for hydrogen for fuel."

Thirsk told Grade 12 student Cameron Baydock that he studied the traditional academic courses at John Taylor, including chemistry with teacher -- wait for it -- George Bush. Being on the varsity soccer and wrestling teams taught him the teamwork essential for space missions, said Thirsk.

Thirsk told Grade 12 student Zach Zimmerman that among the 100 or so experiments being conducted on the space station, he's studying human physiology and the effects on bones of long space flights.

Grade 10 student Kara-Lynn Sorenson asked about the physical challenges once Thirsk returns. His legs are definitely thinner, despite his exercising in weightless conditions, and his face is puffy from the way blood settles in orbit, said Thirsk.

And Grade 10 student Alora Delang was eager to hear the funniest moments in space.

"We play jokes on each other up here," said Thirsk. "We had a little Halloween party up here and got dressed up," he said, but did not have time to elaborate.

"Of course, we didn't have any trick-or-treaters knocking on our door."

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 5, 2009 A2

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