Youthful visions lift off, thanks to retired astronaut

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

It's a long way from the gym at Sacred Hearts Academy to the international space station, about 240 miles if it was directly overhead. It probably seems even farther than that for most teenagers.

Former astronaut Bill Shepherd talks to 700 students at Sacred Hearts Academy. Shepherd, 52, told students yesterday what liftoff is like and how it feels to orbit Earth at 17,200 mph while living five months without gravity on the space station. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

The 52-year-old Shepherd was the first commander of the space station, which he lived in with two Russian cosmonauts from October 2000 to March 2001.

"After the first 30 days, everything felt normal," he said. "I didn't even realize I was in space, except that if I wanted to fly across the room, I could."

The students wanted to know what liftoff was like. He said it's like someone standing on your chest for 9 minutes.

What did he do for fun while in space? Admired the view of Earth.

How did he go to the bathroom and where did that end up? Well, some things are probably better left unsaid.

This was not the first time Shepherd had spoken to the students. During his time on the space station, he spoke with them through a ham radio connection five times.

Shepherd, who retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration last year, said after his talk that speaking to students and the public is important for the space program because it doesn't do a good job of promoting itself.

"Today it's considered normal for a person to be in space," he said. "We're somewhat a victim of our own success."

But space can be a metaphor for students.

"I think it's important for them to not have any constraints on their horizons," he said. "Space is an icon for the things humans can do. Space has no boundaries."

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.