Space shuttle astronauts spread word in Waikato
North Waikato students were given an insight into the wonders of space during a visit by the six Discovery crew members.
For most Kiwi kids growing up to be an astronaut is a distant dream.
So the six-member crew of the space shuttle Discovery took some time this month to recall their adventures and let North Waikato students know that anything is possible.
What started as an educational experience at the Tainui Kauhanganui Tribal Building in Hopuhopu became an exchange of culture and experience.
The astronauts, on a trip to New Zealand after the shuttle’s final mission in February, were welcomed with a powhiri and karakia by high school students from around the North Waikato.
Commander Lindsey was left almost speechless by the “moving” display of culture.
“I’ve never been to a presentation where I’ve been sung to, it’s beautiful,” he said.
One of the mission’s flight engineers and only female on the crew Nicole Stott admitted she was her own worst enemy when it came to setting big goals.
“My greatest obstacle was myself,” she said.
“I wanted to work for Nasa but I didn’t believe in myself enough to even fill in an application to get onto the [astronaut] programme.”
Eventually she did apply though and this mission marks Stott’s second flight, with plans to get to space again.
Preparation for the Discovery’s 39th and final voyage started in January 2010, with just about each minute they would be in space accounted for and every task planned and practised to near perfection.
According to flight engineer Alvin Drew, who took one of the mission’s two space walks to make minor repairs, nothing prepares you for stepping into the galaxy.
“You can’t ignore how amazing the universe is,” said Drew.
“You tell yourself that you have a job to do, and that you can do all the marvelling you want once the work is done, but you get through that door and your body tells you: ‘no, you’re going to be impressed right now’, it never gets old.”
The Discovery was docked at the International Space Station for 14 days.
While there the crew carried out the successful installation of a Permanent Multipurpose Module named Leonardo (after Leonardo Da Vinci) to add much needed storage.
Captain of the mission Commander Steve Lindsey said: “The space station has everything a modern home has except for extra stowage room, so basically we installed a walk-in closet.”
The astronauts agreed they were more than happy to finally be in our country after having watched it “pass by the space station so many times.”
“New Zealand looks very unique and stunning from space, I’m so glad to be here,” said Lindsey.
A presentation by the crew included a 16-minute video of their time on Discovery’s last mission to the tune of the original Star Trek theme.
