The Wall of Air

12/25/05 – 12/31/05

By C. Zaitz

During the holidays we often think of loved ones that can’t be with us, due to distance, death or other circumstances. Recently as I was talking to a group of third graders about the International Space Station, I remembered the two astronauts who are currently residing in the Space Station, Bill and Valery. Bill McArthur is American and Valery Tokarev is Russian. I was thinking how they must have some pangs at this time of year as they look down to their home planet and know that though they are only 250 miles away, they are separated from their loved ones by the invisible wall of Earth’s atmosphere. It might seem strange to think of air as a wall, but really it’s even more daunting than a brick wall- it’s like a wall of fire! Once the astronauts are up in orbit, the only way they can get back is to slowly and carefully ease back into the atmosphere. They must be careful not to go too fast lest the intense friction tear the spacecraft into fireballs as we saw when the Space Shuttle Columbia reentered the atmosphere nearly three years ago. On a physical level, you could think of all the energy the rockets expend getting the astronauts up into orbit could all be unleashed in moments were they to fall back to earth. So the astronauts are up there until they catch a safe ride back to earth.

The two residents of Space Station Freedom will be getting a holiday re-supply visit from the Russian Progress spacecraft. Progress will be loaded with good things to eat like fresh fruit and vegetables, mementos and gifts from home and other supplies that the astronauts need. These crafts are launched with computers to rendezvous with the Station orbiting some 250 nautical miles above earth. Apparently the astronauts shared a typical American Thanksgiving meal of turkey and stuffing back in November, so they are set to enjoy Russian fare of borsht, rye bread and other traditional Russian fare for this holiday! Of course, all of their food is rehydrated, irradiated and/or thermostabilized. But I’m sure they will enjoy it no matter what.

I’m sure as they circle the earth every hour and a half, they will take some time to look out at our little blue and green and white planet and remember all the people living and breathing and toiling and celebrating on the oasis of life in our solar system. I’m betting the change of perspective must inspire such thoughts. And I think it’s good for us earth-bound creatures to look up into the sky once in awhile to remember those who may be separated from us maybe not by walls of fire like the astronauts, but by walls of anger or misunderstanding, of different customs and languages, or even of distance and time. Remember the astronauts silently circling the earth overhead, looking down at us as one whole and complete planet, with everyone that ever lived or ever will live walking the same paths, drinking the same water, and breathing the same air that ever was here on earth.

I hope we all get the opportunity during the holidays to enjoy delightful and inspirational night sky, with Venus and Mars in the sunset sky, and Saturn high overhead through the night. Jupiter will shine in the morning twilight off toward the east.

Until next week, my friends, enjoy the view!