SPACE IN 60

Podcast: SPACE IN 60 Episode: NICOLE STOTT | NASA Astronaut & Author of "Back to Earth" Welcome to the SPACE IN 60 podcast, where Clint Graumann, Andrew Pylypchuk, and Chad Baker bring you into the world of the new space industry! Today, Chad, Clint, Andrew and very special guest host Amalina welcome guest Nicole Scott, NASA Astronaut and the Author of Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet—And Our Mission to Protect It. Rather than writing a typical astronaut memoir, Nicole found it important to share how the work done in space is really about improving life here on earth. We should be living on earth as astronauts live in the International Space Station- as crewmates rather than separate passengers. This is especially evident in regards to the worldly events of the last few years. Amalina asks Nicole why some experiments have to be done in space. Hear more about the microgravity environment in space and the steps astronauts must take while in space to ensure their bodies are prepared for arrival back to gravity. In her experience, returning back to earth is a total reality check and shock to the system, which says a lot about how adaptable our bodies are. Nicole’s son was only seven years old when she first went to space, and she recalls the excitement she felt upon returning home and telling him all about her experience. Then, Nicole answers Amalina’s final question of what space is like by summing it up into one word: awesome. The word awesome is often overused casually, but really is the true essence of everything being done in the space industry today in the effort to improve life on earth. For listeners who have not (yet!) read Nicole’s book, she highlights a few of her crewmates in space. She reveals that it is never a crew of just American representatives. In fact, there was a Swedish astronaut in her first crew, which later joined up with international partners representing 16 different countries in one crew. Seeing as astronauts spend such a long period of time in space, Nicole shares that they establish a daily routine just as they would at home. Looking back on her entire time in space, Nicole is most proud of the people she was able to share it with. If there is one theme which comes across strongest in Nicole’s book, it’s the comradery shared by those in the industry. One of the most beautiful things about space exploration, Nicole believes, is how the industry has been able to lead by example and establish community amongst one another. In light of the current events, she hopes that this model will serve as an example for our earthly relationships too. As the episode wraps up, Nicole shares what she would say to people reluctant towards space exploration development. Finally, she identifies the most important takeaway from her book: finding a call to action of your own. Links: Connect with Nicole Scott and find her book here. Connect with Clint Graumann on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with Andrew Pylypchuk on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with Chad Baker on LinkedIn Learn more about SPACE IN 60 and connect on Twitter.