In Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this interview series with Nick Hague, we covered a lot of ground, including the astronaut’s aborted Soyuz mission in 2018 and his subsequent successful Soyuz flight to the International Space Station in 2019, what he’s afraid of, the surreal views from space, the COVID-19 pandemic and more. Here, Hague focuses on space walks, Virgin Galactic and how to absorb the sights and sensations of space flight. Following are edited excerpts from a longer conversation.
VSS Unity, Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo, near the apogee of its third powered flight July ... [+]
Jim Clash: Last time, we discussed the small space debris that occasionally hit the International Space Station, and even astronauts, on space walks. That aside, the view must be incredible on an EVA.
Nick Hague: You spend so much time training in the space suit. I distinctly remember on my third EVA I got so comfortable that the suit kind of disappeared. For sure, the helmet gives you such a panoramic view that it’s easy to feel like it has disappeared, too. You’re just out in space, floating, working. It’s a little bit of, “I can’t believe I’m here.” You can the Earth below, and can take in its full expanse, get a sense of how big it is. You’re just working with your friends, talking with another friend on the radio, trying to get your job done. And every now and then looking over your shoulder thinking, ‘Wow, look at that below us, it’s an amazing view.’ It’s pretty surreal.
Clash: Virgin Galactic plans to take tourists into suborbital space soon. As a seasoned astronaut, what advice would you give them?
Hague: Be in the moment. You will have expectations about everything. There’s going to be some apprehension, as well, because you’ve not done it before. The fear of the unknown is a powerful driver. Focus and try to absorb as much as you can. You’ll be surprised about the sensory overload. That said, all the training you’ve had will help. Rely on it so that you can control the things you can control. As for the view, try to etch it into your memory, because it’s amazing. Your perspective on the world and your place in it will change because of what you see. But it goes quick. Your mind can play tricks on you. The things that I thought happened in a second lasted minutes, and some things that lasted minutes felt like seconds. Again, try to be in the moment, absorb it as much as you can, because it is so fleeting.
A weightless Nick Hague aboard the International Space Station.
Clash: What about the weightlessness aspect of the flight?
Hague: The weightlessness is interesting. But I think the perspective from the view is really what you’re paying to get.
Clash: So you probably don’t recommend taking a cellphone or camera with you to snap photos and video?
Hague: Don’t waste your time. I took tens of thousands of photos out of the ISS cupola for my first six months. But my last two weeks up there I think I took one photo. I just wanted to be there, witness it, not worry about trying to get the exposure right, the framing right, making sure I got a good photo. Your eyes will always be so much better and clearer than what you can capture with a camera, especially a cellphone. Don’t try to record anything, just witness it.
Clash: Do you ever plan to fly to space again?
Hague: I’m going to take a one-year sabbatical, work in the Pentagon on Space Force, and then come back at NASA, hopefully flying again one day. You can’t really bank on it, though - you never what’s in your future. But I’m committed to coming back to NASA and supporting the missions then.
Part 1: How Astronaut Nick Hague Survived An Aborted Soyuz Flight
Part 2: After Rocket Failure Nick Hague Straps Back Into The Soyuz
Part 3: Astronaut Nick Hague On COVID-19: “We Manage Risk For A Living”
Part 4: What Happens If Space Junk Hits An Astronaut During EVA?
