Astronaut Timothy Kopra – “Where is my Ride”

By Laura Leigh Davidson
August 31, 2009

Has anyone ever been a little late picking you up from school or practice? NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra found himself in a similar situation this week.

Kopra has been living on the International Space Station (ISS) since mid-July. He is scheduled to return to Earth aboard space shuttle Discovery. But his ride has been delayed. Discovery was unable to launch at its scheduled time on Tuesday due to thunderstorms. The shutttle’s blast off has now been postponed until Friday because of mechanical problems.

Until Discovery arrives to take him home, Kopra will continue his daily duties, which include conducting science experiments in the ISS labs, and performing maintenance on the space station. Kopra and five other astronauts from around the world currently live on the ISS.

Kopra recently talked to Scholastic Kid Reporters Bailey and Mason Pownall of Austin, Texas, about what it’s like to live in space. Here’s part of their interview.

Q: As a child, was it your dream to become an astronaut?

KOPRA: When I was about 6, it was pretty normal for a kid to want to grow up to become an astronaut. NASA was landing men on the moon, and it was a really exciting time for the space program.

Q: What has been your favorite part of being an astronaut, if you had to pick one thing?

KOPRA: Probably the favorite thing that I’ve done so far was to live underwater for a week. I lived in a facility called Aquarius. Living underwater is very similar to living in space. We had a crew of six that lived inside this module that wasn’t very large. We took daily walks on the bottom of the ocean. (Walking on the ocean floor is similar to walking on the moon.)

Q: What are some of your jobs on the space station?

KOPRA: My very first job on the ISS was a space walk. I worked with robotic arms to help attach different platforms to the space station. I also spend about two hours every day working out. Living in space is very hard on your body and exercising helps you withstand the harsh conditions.

Q: What is the biggest challenge about being an astronaut?

KOPRA: For me [since I have been in training to be on the ISS] probably the most challenging part has been separation from family.

Q: What is the first thing you’ll do when you come back to Earth?
KOPRA: As soon as we get back, I’ll essentially be a lab rat. I have to participate in experiments that will help scientists understand exactly what happens to the human body when it is exposed to very weak gravity for a long period of time. Scientists will be taking a lot of measurements to see how my body is adapting to coming back to the stronger gravity on Earth.

Q: What kind of food will you be excited to eat when you come back to Earth?
KOPRA: Fresh food. We have a very limited supply of fresh food.

Q: What would be your advice to kids who want to become astronauts?
KOPRA: I think the primary way to achieve goals like that is through perseverance and hard work. You can apply those to any major goal that you have.

Astronaut Nicole Stott will be taking Kopra’s place aboard the ISS.

Source: Scholastic News Online

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