Astronaut upbeat, misses family
Thirsk past 100 days, two months still to go
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/09/2009 (6068 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
LONGUEUIL, Que. — Bob Thirsk hasn’t had a shower in more than three months as he circles the Earth aboard the International Space Station.
And while he misses that earthly luxury, the record-setting Canadian astronaut says it is his family that he misses most.
"I think I have the greatest job in the world, but you don’t get something for nothing," Thirsk said Friday during Day 101 of his six-month space voyage. "Unfortunately there’s a price to pay and it’s the family that has paid."
The father of three said he really misses the good-night hugs, the bedtime stories and the birthday parties.
Thirsk celebrated his own 56th birthday on Aug. 17 while orbiting 350 kilometres above the planet.
"When I get back on November 23, it’s going to be a marvellous, marvellous day," he told a crew news conference that was beamed to the Canadian Space Agency near Montreal.
For now, Thirsk must settle for emails and weekly video conferences with his wife Brenda, daughter Lisane, and sons Elliott and Aidan.
The native of New Westminster, B.C., appeared pale as he joined the other astronauts in one of the space station’s modules for the international news conference.
Thirsk has travelled more than 70 million kilometres since arriving at the orbiting outpost in late May, and the effects of weightlessness are evident.
His legs are thinner, his face is rounder and Thirsk is also four inches taller.
"There’s a loss of calcium and water and muscles become weak," Thirsk noted.
But he works out on several machines to try to keep his muscles strong and is also taking a new medication which he says seems to be working well.
As for personal hygiene, Thirsk and his crew mates do the best they can with daily washcloth wipe-downs.
Since rinsing and spitting in a weightlessness environment is not advisable, they usually swallow their toothpaste after brushing.
Thirsk said his biggest surprise of the mission has been the ground support team, which he praised for keeping the astronauts working effectively and productively.
"I think at the end of this six-month expedition I’m going to feel very fulfilled, that I’ve participated in a very important mission to the best of my abilities," Thirsk said.
Ed Tabarah, the Canadian Space Agency’s mission manager, said he was surprised at how well Thirsk has adapted to life on the giant space laboratory.
"He’s very busy, but happy to be busy and just looks like he’s having a great time up there," Tabarah said.
— The Canadian Press