Video: What’s It Like Inside the Space Station During a Re-boost?

by Nancy Atkinson on October 27, 2011

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Ever wonder what it would be like on board the Starship Enterprise when Capt. Kirk commands Mr. Sulu to fire the thrusters, only to have the artificial gravity turn off at the same time? We’ve got our own 21st century equivalent of a big spaceship — the International Space Station — firing its thrusters in order to stay in a good orbit around Earth. And since we haven’t invented artificial gravity yet, you can see what happens. In the video are Expedition 29 Commander Mike Fossum and Flight Engineers Satoshi Furukawa and Sergei Volkov, demonstrating what it is like to experience the acceleration from firing the thrusters.

About

Nancy Atkinson is Universe Today's Senior Editor. She also is the host of the NASA Lunar Science Institute podcast and works with the Astronomy Cast and 365 Days of Astronomy podcasts. Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

  • http://msewing.myopenid.com/ msewing

    Am I the only one who read the title as “What it’s like inside the Space Station during a Re-boot?” That might have been even more interesting!

    • http://twitter.com/hernanderson cesar hernandez

      that’s what brought me here!

  • Anonymous

    Considering how many potential loose items may have inadvertently floated away during the innumerable missions on board the ISS, I am surprised NOT to see something float by the camera – a baggie, a loose bolt, a missing comb or?

    “Messy roommates need not apply!”

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