How did your spaceflight experiences change you? What were the best or most memorable parts?
There are so many unforgettable aspects of life in space, including the experiments, the robotics and the spacewalks, but I think my most memorable moment took place when Peggy [Whitson, commander of the space station’s Expedition 16] and her crew invited us to have dinner over in the service module. “You guys bring the vegetables, we’ll bring the meat,” they said, and we all congregated around the small table, with some floating above and others below. There we were, French, German, Russian, Asian American, African American, all having a meal in space.
Out the window we could see Afghanistan, Iraq and other troubled spots. Some 240 miles [386 kilometres] above those strife-torn places, we sat in peace with people we once counted among our nation’s enemies, bound by a common commitment to explore space for the benefit of all humanity. It was one of the most inspiring moments of my life. That day I gained a newfound perspective on how it’s possible for different people to live and work together – definitely needed to bring that hope and optimism back home to Earth.
“WE SAT IN PEACE WITH PEOPLE WE ONCE COUNTED AMONG OUR ENEMIES”
LELAND MELVIN