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ISS Mission Accomplished ISS Mission Accomplished
Leroy Chiao Former NASA Astronaut After his six-and-a-half-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Leroy Chiao returned to Earth in April 2005. He is particularly acclaimed at NASA for his skillful spacewalks. Astronaut Koichi Wakata, who flew two space shuttle missions with Dr. Chiao and is also a good friend, asked him about his experience on the ISS.
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Doctor of Chemical Engineering Former NASA Astronaut Born in August 1960, in Wisconsin, U.S.A., Dr. Chiao became an astronaut in 1991. He flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-65 (1994). On STS-72 (1996) and STS-92 (2000), he performed four spacewalks, two on each mission. (Astronaut Koichi Wakata was also part of the STS-72 and 92 crew.) In October 2004, he traveled via Russia's Soyuz spaceship to the ISS, where he was commander of the Expedition 10 mission. (The space shuttle program had been grounded after the Columbia accident in 2003.) During his six-and-a-half-month stay at the ISS, Dr. Chiao carried out two spacewalks. He resigned from NASA in November 2005, and today works primarily as a space-program consultant.
Wakata What was the primary mission of Expedition 10?
Chiao The primary purpose of the mission was maintenance of the ISS. For instance, as well as exchanging the Quest Airlock parts and fixing American space suits, we installed experimental equipment via spacewalks and prepared for the arrival of Europe's supply vehicle, ATV. Our task was doing maintenance and repairs to keep the station in a good state for the return of the shuttle flights and resumption of major ISS construction.
Wakata What did you feel on board the space station during your six-month stay?
Chiao It's a variety of feelings. Of course it's exciting to be in space, exciting to look down at the Earth and perform the science experiments and maintenance work. And of course EVA [extra-vehicular activity] is very exciting. But it's also a lot of hard work, and it's a long time to be away from your family and friends. So I had a lot of different feelings.
Wakata Very different from a short shuttle flight?
Chiao Oh yes.
Wakata What were the most interesting things that you experienced during your stay in orbit?
Chiao The most interesting thing was looking out the window and taking photographs of different places on Earth. One of my challenges was to try to photograph the Great Wall of China. And I did actually take some photos, but it was hard to discern the wall with the naked eye. Of course EVAs were very exciting. I had a chance to go out in a Russian space suit and try that, after having done several EVAs in the U.S. suit.
Wakata Those pictures are wonderful. Especially, the one that you took of the Great Wall of China was great.
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