Sci-films influenced real-world space training and tech.
80km above ground is considered space. 8 mins to go outer space.
Have to be 100% healthy. Physical, mental. Medical test every 3 months. Not everyone can go ‘cos of psychological. All candidates are genius/smart but important how they handle situation during unfavourable environment eg. The Martian movie.
Think during critical situation. One training was to be dropped from plane free fall then answer simple math questions before opening parachute.
Deliberate psychological challenges during training eg. snow forest training below 30 degrees. Wore blue suit with 7 layers. Hike for 3 days low food supply.
He’s not concern about going into space, but getting back to earth.
Capsule lands back on earth with parachute. Round chute is more difficult to land ‘cos can’t be controlled like rectangular chute (from his military training).
Landing seat is customized with individual suit to lessen impact. One astronaut’s suit is different to another. Sit in fetal position. His space suit is 10kg.
Lands in sea is best situation. Send GPS then rescue comes. Can be up to 2 hrs. Have to change to orange floating suit in capsule. Have to remain calm. Water can come in. Some might not make it. When outside, water might leak into suit and die from hypothermia.
Parabolic flight with micro gravity was fun. Spinning chamber to test ‘exposure to excessive G loads’ (max gravity pull) was not fun.
There was an experiment where lizards were brought to space to test gravitational movement but turns out they got confused and no coordination.
6 months training. Personalization based on individuality. 2-hour personality test to know himself. Critical for mission and beneficial for work/life.
When in shuttle there’s only you, a wall and the earth. His lecturer had cognitive dissonance first time out of shuttle ‘cos in space no barrier between astronaut and earth. Afraid of falling, but floated. Had to unlearn past knowledge/experiences.
Biological body receptor at chest. In space body experience fluid redistribution. 50/50 compare to earth’s 30/70. So at space they always feel like have to go to toilet.
Space food lasts 1 1/2 year. 98% same nutrients with 20% lighter weight. Tongue needs saliva to test at least 50%. And smell to taste.
I asked him about Mars. Said he was invited to Mars 500 groundwork program but couldn’t make it.
Mars trip could take 6 to 8 months. Could spend 2 months there then come back. Up to 2 years total.
Not easy ‘cos space suit and shuttle can’t go more than 500km from earth. Different kind of cosmic radiation and can get cancer easily. Need new kind of spaceship, suits, etc.
He thinks Mars mission is a great challenge for earth to invent/innovate new things. Unite all humanity. Tech can be used on earth like in the past eg. cordless mic, uv lens, etc.
(Note: If anyone attended the talk reading this and find any errors, please let me know and I will rectify it. Thank you.)
