NASA astronauts inspire the young at Imperial

Space Shuttle Discovery Mission crew visits the College on their UK tour - <em>News</em>

Tuesday 5 December 2006
By Naomi Weston

After nine busy days in space performing essential repair work to the NASA International Space Station, the crew from the Space Shuttle Discovery Mission STS-121 gave a presentation outlining their trip at Imperial College London on Thursday 30 November.

This rare event provided an opportunity for members of the public, staff, students and school children to ask the astronauts questions about their unique job and trip into space. The event was part of their UK tour aimed at encouraging young people to become involved in science.

"We are here to inspire the young", explained space walker, Piers Sellers. He told the audience how he started his career as a scientist, studying the climate on earth before becoming an astronaut.

The other crew members, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, pilot Mark Kelly and engineer Tomas Gonzales-Torres were all at the event. The crew showed the audience a video of the mission launch and footage of their work whilst in space along with a tour of the space shuttle itself.

The audience also had a chance to quiz the astronauts. When asked what psychological preparation they had to do, Lisa Nowak, explained: "We all go on expeditions regularly to prepare for our mission. We also sit in simulators each week where we are presented with different challenges to prepare us for anything."

And the risk factor? "As an astronaut we balance the risks as an individual to the benefit of society as a whole," Mark Kelly stated. He also explained how the rocket they were travelling in took off and landed. "When we land we are travelling at about 230mph and we have no engines at that point to land."

In addition, Tomas Gonzales-Torres gave a short presentation on the Hubble Space Telescope.