Jennifer Laing profiles Dr. Andrew Thomas, Australian-born NASA Astronaut and asks him about his time on the Russian Space Station Mir and forthcoming mission to the International Space Station.
NASA Astronaut Dr. Andrew Thomas has the distinction of being the last US representative to go through the Russian flight certification program, and spent four and a half months living aboard the Russian Space Station Mir in 1998. How did he reach this rarified level? Armed with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Adelaide in Australia, Thomas headed overseas in 1977 to work as a research scientist with the Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company in Georgia U.S.A. Did he have plans at this stage to become a professional astronaut? Thomas says that as a boy he dreamed of becoming an astronaut "…like many kids do. I remember watching the moon landings, but it was never a realistic option."
Gradually however his career took him in the direction of vehicle aerodynamics, flight controls and propulsion systems for aircraft, and Thomas moved to California in 1989 to join the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, eventually heading up NASA-sponsored research into microgravity materials processing in space. Part of the work involved technology studies to support the development of the space flight hardware for future Shuttle missions. "My work in the aerospace industry moved in that direction and I eventually decided to apply for the space program." NASA runs a selection program for astronauts every couple of years and usually about 2,000 people apply for only 20 positions. The competition is fierce. Thomas was one of 100 interviewed and, eventually, one of the successful 20 people selected for the program. In 1993, after a year's training, he was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on space shuttle flight crews.
He remembers his first trip into space in 1996 vividly. "After the launch, which was incredible in itself, I unstrapped myself and went to the window to take photos. The scene outside literally took my breath away. The blackness of space, the blue of the oceans on Earth, the glint of the Sun's rays on ice crystals - it is a really beautiful sight." This mission was 10 days in length, a precursor to his marathon 140 day stint aboard Mir two years later.
In the lead up to this flight, Thomas was required to spend a year in Russia, and one of the many challenges confronting him was the need to learn Russian in order to be able to converse with his colleagues on Mir. He feels that this preparation was important to "become in tune with the way the Russian culture is and the way it works." Thomas told the assembled media when he returned, "You have to spend a lot of time working with the crew you're going to fly with so you can get to know them and build a relationship before you fly. I think that's very important when we've got members of the crew that are coming from such diverse backgrounds."
I asked Thomas what were his two enduring memories of living on Mir for such a long stretch of time. "I guess firstly going on board and seeing the confinement and feeling what a challenge it was going to be to learn to live under those conditions. The second would be a few weeks after, when I realised that living there would actually be quite fun and began to feel that the mission would be successful from that personal point of view." He talks of the "feeling of serenity" that he felt - life on board had its own rhythms and set patterns "away from the tribulations of modern life." "You don't have to worry about everyday things like paying the bills or taking the cat to the vet!"
A lot of Thomas' time on Mir was spent conducting scientific experiments, such as growing human cancer cells in a zero-gravity environment, as well as having a part to play in the general housekeeping duties required to maintain Mir as a working space station. The experience of Russian and US astronauts living and working together on Mir during this Phase 1 period has been described by NASA as "laying the foundation for construction of the International Space Station."
Thomas also conducted a large number of interviews while on Mir, including answering questions and emails from school children. This is an aspect of his work which he is passionate about and feels is essential to ensure that the next generation maintains an interest in space exploration and research programs. "This provides them with a sense of hope - something to look forward to - and helps to define the future of our society. If we don't do this, we risk a producing a society which is bland, rather than inspired and visionary."
Life aboard Mir was a tremendous feat of physical endurance. Like all astronauts, Thomas upon return to Earth experienced problems with balance, due to dealing with gravity after months of living in a zero-gravity environment, and underwent a supervised program of rehabilitation exercises for many weeks. What about the psychological adjustments he had to make? Was it a bit of an anti-climax adjusting to life after Mir? "Not really. I was gone from home for a year for training in Russia and then there was the time spent on Mir. I enjoyed settling down into a normal routine again at home and enjoying the sunshine - it was summer when I returned. It was a wonderful feeling of peace with the outcome - I had achieved a huge milestone in my life."
Since his return, Thomas has won a number of Australian awards and honours, including being made an Officer of the Order of Australia this year, but he still remains something of an unsung hero in his home country. That hasn't stopped him from working behind the scenes to ensure that the Sydney Olympic torch was taken up on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The launch was delayed due to weather problems but eventually took place as the official flame was due to be handed over to Australia in Athens. "I worked hard to make it happen. My motivation was to inspire people about both the Sydney Olympic Games and the International Space Station, so it was a win-win situation so far as I was concerned. I thought it was a fitting symbolic gesture to link these two things, as both require a degree of international collaboration and the torch will fly over most of the countries participating in the Games."
Thomas grew up in Adelaide and his parents still reside in South Australia. Does he miss anything about life in Australia? The first thing that springs to mind is "…the countryside - most Australians feel that bond with the physical environment, the smell of the air and the look of the trees." He can see himself returning to Australia at some stage in the future but obviously his career is still in an upward trajectory at NASA.
Thomas' love for the outdoors is reflected in many of his hobbies, such as horse riding and jumping, mountain biking, running and wind surfing. He was asked by a CNN journalist how he spent his time relaxing on Mir when such activities were obviously impossible, and revealed a more cerebral side, listing reading, photography and listening to music as enjoyable pursuits in space. In a pre-flight interview, he explained that "Entertainment and recreation are very important in a flight like this because of the confinement. You have to somehow psychologically get away from the people you're with, even though you can't physically get away from them. So you have to have a lot of resources." Talgat Musabayev, the Russian commander of the mission, shares a common interest in music with Thomas and there was a guitar on board which Thomas attempted to play. Common denominators like this helped to break down the cultural and social barriers between the crew members, leading Musabayev to say at the end of Thomas' stay on Mir that he became "…just an integral part of the crew here at Mir. We're very happy."
The future looks bright for Thomas, with the announcement that he is to be included as a Mission Specialist on the eighth Space Shuttle Mission aboard Discovery, scheduled to visit the International Space Station in February 2001. Equipment will be delivered, space station crews rotated (three crew members taken up and three taken down) and two spacewalks carried out, revolving around assembly of the Space Station. Thomas is to perform one of these spacewalks, which he describes as a "big challenge" which will necessitate a "huge volume of training" to supplement the training he has already received in the lead-up to his time on Mir. Thomas wasn't required to carry out a spacewalk during that flight, but commented at the time that, "Should one ever present itself as, perhaps, one day it might, … I'd like to step up to it, yes."
Despite all these challenges, both past and future, Thomas could never be described as blasé about space travel. He points out that less than 100 years after the first aeroplane was flown by the Wright Brothers, human beings are now flying in the space shuttle, "an incredible progression." He also finds the speed of these shuttles an amazing concept. "Twenty minutes after passing Australia, you are passing the US. These days we are separated by speed rather than distance." Thomas says that one cannot help but be awestruck at the experience of flying in space. "The whole world is a panorama beneath you - it is definitely a profound experience."
Jennifer Laing is a freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia