Flight into space is not easy as it appears, says Weber

For a generation which has seen quite a number of satellite launches, entering space may appear simple – boarding a shuttle that moves at speeds that enable the launch vehicle to escape the gravitational pull of the earth and an appropriate health regimen that gives physical fitness to withstand the hardships during the flight.

But, a flight into the space is not that easy as it appears, according to Mary Ellen Weber, an astronaut from the United States. While physical training is one aspect, mental training to impart a thorough knowledge about each and every operating system on the flight for making split second decisions forms an integral part of the preparation.

“Most people don't quite understand how we get into space. The vehicle should travel at speeds several times faster than sound and we need a huge engine to get anything going that fast,” she said. The most risky time during the flight is during its launch when the astronauts manning the shuttle should monitor all the systems shaking and shuddering.

A veteran of two space flights (STS-70 and STS-101), Ms. Weber who was here on Saturday in connection with a programme arranged by the US Consulate General in association with the B.M. Birla Science Centre explained in vivid detail the various aspects involved in space flight. “Once into the space, most of the time is spent on looking out for things that float away due to zero gravity. This can be quite annoying,” she said.

Ms. Weber, a chemical engineer, explained how her passion for skydiving changed her life forever opening eyes for a whole new world of aviation. She advised the young minds to keep their eyes open for different opportunities claiming humanity was at the dawn of travelling from planet to planet an solar system to solar system. “It is going to be an international effort where great minds from different backgrounds will come together to make this dream come true,” she said adding the India could also get international partners in taking up its space programmes.

Recalling her experience in the International Space Station, she said the most breathtaking view from the ISS was of Himalayan Mountains that were still crashing into the Asian plate. “Once you are in space, there are no boundaries or borders. All that you can see is the water and land mass.”