Soldiers in space chat with CSA

[dreadpirateroberts]

Soldiers in space chat with CSA

By J.D. Leipold
April 7, 2006

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 6, 2006) – From 220 nautical miles out in space, while passing over the tip of South America in the International Space Station, Army astronauts Col. Jeffrey Williams and retired Col. William McArthur spoke with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker in a live broadcast April 6.

McArthur, commander of Expedition 12, met up with Williams last Friday after a two-day trip aboard the Soyuz capsule. Williams is serving as the flight engineer for Expedition 13, whose crew will spend the next six months conducting space walks, research and constructing the outpost.

“The biggest thing we’re doing, of course, is trying to demonstrate that people can live and work in space, in an environment that is innately hostile to human beings,” McArthur told Schoomaker. “At the same time we’re gathering information that will enable even more effective support for longer durations of space flight.

McArthur added that his Army experience prepared him well for his job as an astronaut.

“Our Army experience has prepared us extremely well to this. I think we bring a real operational flavor to this job, the idea that you put mission first,” he said.

Williams told the CSA that he and his crew would conduct maintenance of the space station until they continue assembly, when the space shuttles resume flights in the summer.

“The bean counters say it takes almost three people full-time just to run and operate the station, and we’ve been doing it with two for several years now. This keeps us busy,” Williams told the general. “We’re also able to squeeze in some research and science, primarily to support future exploration since we plan to go back to the moon and eventually to Mars.”

Schoomaker asked what the crew was able to see from the space station.

“As we go around the southern tip of South America it’s very visible, we can see the Andes, then we’re crossing Argentina and can see the Falkland Islands,” he said. “Deserts are very distinctive whether you’re over the vast uninhabited parts of Australia or the north African terrain, the Sahara Desert… the textures and colors are all different, coastlines are very distinctive.”

Schoomaker thanked the astronauts for their service.

“We have a great deal of pride and respect for you and your accomplishments, so thanks so much for your service. We wish you a safe time, an enjoyable time and great success on your mission,” Schoomaker said.

To watch go to Video teleconference.