Editor's Note: As we wait for the shuttle that will bring Sandra home to dock with the ISS, we are catching up on some journal entries sent to us previously.
MAGNUS:
It is very easy to get busy up here and forget to "stop and smell the roses" as it were. (I think that is probably true for all of us everywhere!) So after dinner and before bedtime tonight I finally stopped and took a moment to watch the world go by during a night pass. It seems like it has been a while since I have done this. There are always excuses...other things that have to get done, e-mails to write, feet to warm up, too tired, there is always another day...blah, blah, blah. But I put my foot down, figuratively speaking, and took the time.
We were passing up through the Atlantic going north across Africa and Europe and arcing down through Asia to come out east of Australia and New Zealand into the Pacific. I do not know exactly where we were but it was already night when I positioned myself at the docking compartment window. I think it was the one facing more starboard. I always get myself mixed up when I go into that module; I can never easily find the hatch again. Even though the lights in the docking compartment were off, reflections from the lights in the SM and FGB interfered with the view so I had to put my hands up around my glasses and then wait for my eyes to adjust.
I am going to try to paint a picture in words of what I saw. Close your eyes and imagine yourself here on ISS with me looking out of the docking compartment window. You are positioned so the Earth is passing by below and you can see the horizon as well with the night sky behind it. Here is what you see:
It is completely night. There are thunderstorms across Africa and lightening is everywhere; bright flashes are going cloud to cloud illuminating the clouds as it arcs from one to the other. It is a private fireworks show. The storm is large and very spread out and at any moment you see 4 or 5 flashes occurring at one time, each one only lasting a moment. The colors range from something orange-ish to blue-white. Some are more like balls of light while others have that characteristic streak shape that you can observe on Earth. It goes on for several minutes. Occasionally a city goes by with lights shining brightly against the backdrop of flashing pulses of light. The cities come in all shapes, sizes and colors and light patterns. Some cities have clouds over them and all that can be seen is a haze of light. For the cities with clear skies, street patterns are apparent - outlined by streetlights. Some cities have very bright orange lights that stand out as beacons. The thunderstorms have finally passed by but still the Earth remains illuminated as the ISS continues to fly over densely populated areas. Population centers are easy to see at night; there are cities all around. Coastlines go by and you can tell because of the outline in city lights.
The night sky, the heavens, though is what really catches the eye. Even though the Earth's horizon is dark, light provided by the clouds and the city lights reflecting off of the clouds provide enough illumination to discern the difference between the Earth and space. The night sky is inky black against the night horizon of the Earth. In the night sky, though, sparkle uncounted points of light, some white, some red, some orange, all of different sizes. They are everywhere. The mMilky wWay is clearly evident. It rises up from behind the Earth like a glowing white path leading off into the distance, inviting you to follow. The stars surrounded the Earth and wrap around her horizon - a blanket of light illustrating that we are not alone. You are swimming in a sea of beautiful lights that can only be seen in the dark. As you gaze at the multitude of points glittering in the night, it is hard to imagine that each one is a world or worlds or stars like our sun. They are so remote and seem so tiny. The vastness of space is truly evident as you watch the Earth turn slowly beneath. It is awe inspiring and overwhelming all at once and, oh, so beautiful!
The illumination on the Earth changes depending on whether the Station flies over a city or not, but the inky dark curtain of the night sky remains and the twinkling stars do not change. There are so many. Every now and then it is possible to see a satellite in the distance; a blinking red light moving faster than an airplane and in a higher orbit. They pass by quickly.
You stay at the window spell-bound as you pass by in the night. For that is what the ISS is doing - it is passing through the night, unaffected and untouched, merely observing the play of darkness across the planet. As the terminator approaches the Station catches the sun's rays first. That is how you know that you approach the dawn. The solar arrays start to glow faintly red, then orange, then bright white as they capture the first light of the sun coming up over the horizon. It is still dark below, even darker, and the night sky, with its twinkling diamonds, disappears as the brightness of the sun reflecting off of the arrays completely erases any other views.
Thus, right before dawn there is total black and as you look out the window it is as if neither the Earth nor the heavens are there. You just exist, floating in an endless sea of black with one bright light, the sun, illuminating the way. Nothing beyond the light exists. It only lasts a moment, though, as the sun rises higher over the nearing horizon. The Earth starts to pick up some of the rays at last and reappears out of the darkness awash in a faint gray color. Drawing closer you can notice that any high clouds in the atmosphere glow orange or red as they too find the morning sun. It is possible to see the terminator as you cross it. The grey of dawn gives way to the bright blues and whites of day that are so distinctive of our water planet. Looking back in the direction from whence you came, the darkness of night is still noticeable. Only looking forward does the day shine clearly. Soon the night is gone as the Space Station continues on its never-ending trek across the planet. The heavens are now just a dark velvety curtain against the brilliant colors of Earth. No stars are visible. They are there, though, waiting for the night which will come in another 45 minutes or so, to show themselves again.
Mar 19
2009
Wow, what a beautiful post! I can feel the profound sense of both peace and solitude that I imagine deepens the senses as you watch the surface of our humble globe quietly slipping by beneath.
Mar 19
2009
Wow, you have inspired me, and made me incredibly sad an jealous at the same time. I must say that you have an incredibly vivid writing style, and I could almost imagine really being there on the ISS. I can only hope that future generations of humans will be able to get the same perspective you shared with us.
Mar 19
2009
A wonderful post! It gave me the same feeling I got in the 50's reading Arthur C Clarke's writings on what living in space would be like without the monsters, explosions and the death rays. The difference of course is that this is real. I'm jealous that I will never see this and sad that Sir Arthur never got to go see for himself. His work is as responsible as any other artist for a mindset that took men and, (wonderfully!), women, to carry out this great project. With every successful orbit and experiment Man the Explorer gains a small measure of knowledge and maturity which we all share. Thanks, Sandra. Have a safe trip home.
Mar 19
2009
Wow. beautiful! I feel incredibly jealous! wish i was there to see the view! Perhaps in dreams! :( :(
Mar 19
2009
Thanks. Thanks, Sandra.
Mar 19
2009
Thank you so much for sharing that moment with us. I can say without exaggeration that was one of the most moving descriptions of being in space I have ever read.
Mar 19
2009
Thanks for that, Sandra. It reminds me how much I'd like to spend a short time in orbit--not long, just a day. Like so many kids I had dreams of becoming an astronaut too, and I feel a sadness sometimes realizing it'll never happen. But my daughter is interested in space, even at the age of three, and maybe she'll have a chance someday.
Mar 19
2009
Wow...that was an amazingly well crafted description.
I recall back when I was in law school, the local cable company had NASA TV on its public access channel once in a while. I caught it at one time while the Shuttle was in orbit and was able to watch the live feed from the cargo bay--it was mesmerizing to watch the earth rotate below. I even threw in a videotape to record it because I knew it was worthy of saving.
This essay reminded me of that experience: the awe, the feeling of being in the presence of something majestic. I envy Sandra and her colleagues, but I am so pleased to find Sandra's blog. Thank you, Sandra, for sharing this with us.
Godspeed for the rest of your mission and the return home.
Mar 19
2009
Should've......sent......a poet......
Oh wait...
Mar 19
2009
Have you thought about recording this post for the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast?
Also, does anyone know how I can submit this for Open Laboratory 2009?
Mar 19
2009
This is a wonderful, horizon and mind-expanding piece of writing. Thanks for sharing it with us, Sandra.
Mar 19
2009
Gracias muchas gracias, thanks a lot... I was very touched by the way you wrote about that precious moment. I think I was there for an instant, I could imagine some views...
thanks again, well done...
Mar 19
2009
Gracias muchas gracias, thanks a lot... I was very touched by the way you wrote about that precious moment. I think I was there for an instant, I could imagine some views...
thanks again, well done...
Mar 20
2009
Thank you for sharing this, for helping me (and others) experience what so many of us might never actually get to witness with our own eyes. Sure, we can watch video on NASA TV, but the sheer majesty of the experience is something one needs to be there to feel. Your description is the next best thing!
Mar 20
2009
Boy, Sandra, you just stopped and smelled the roses that the vast majority of humanity will never have the chance to enjoy. Good for you.
And thank you for sharing with us, the earth-bound dreamers who understand there's so much more out there than ourselves, even as you look back on the very tiny home we inhabit.
Mar 20
2009
Beautifully written piece Sandra, which if read aloud to the blind would give them a wonderful word-picture of what you have seen.
Mar 20
2009
Thank you for that beautiful description of our home, Earth. Sfae journey home.
Mar 20
2009
Awesome descriptions. Must be truly wonderful to be orbiting Spaceship Earth with an incredible crew, support, and views.
We need much more media coverage of the ISS and space shuttle ops as well as space exploration and discoveries.
However, semantically speaking, and, hopefully , not being too harsh, we have not yet transitioned to a "spacefaring" intellectualism. The ISS is approaching Earth's terminator; not 'the terminator approaching approaching the ISS'. The sun is not coming up over the horizon nor rising higher--the ISS is traveling into sun-sight, into the view of the sun or moon, with the sun "appearing" to rise higher. Later, the sun "appears" to be setting below the horizon or elcipsed by Earth's horizon as the ISS/Space Shuttle orbits out of sun sight, moon sight.
It is not just aboard the ISS or Space Shuttle, it is also mostly everyone on Earth.
Thanks.
Mar 20
2009
Thank you for this, Sandra. It's absolutely wonderful. We want more! Best :-)
Mar 20
2009
Thank you, Sandra. Your unique perspective and soul-felt description help open the heavens to those of us here on Earth.
Would that all could see our home as you do. Would that we all learn to love and embrace her...and each other.
Thank you. I look forward to a post from your last days on this ISS mission. I suspect that you more than any other, can capture that for us.
Mar 20
2009
beautiful, amazing, i'm mexican, sorry for my bad english, just want to say, i'm agree you must be a poet!!!!!!
Mar 20
2009
After a particularly stressful morning, I read your post. Your words so beautifully described a sight most of us will never experience first-hand, yet could almost envision from your description. The powerful sense of peace I experienced while reading was much needed today. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Mar 20
2009
Wow, thank you for trying to share with us a little fragment of what you feel there, so close, with such a privileged view of the crazy absurd of the existence and reality. I think the only thing that can be more marvellous than the vision that you describe, is the vision in a spacial walk, outside of the ship, with a 360 view of all, dark in all directions...I hope someday you can give us a description of that, as beautifull as the one in this post!
Thank you Sandra, really, thank you.
Mar 21
2009
Thank you for sharing your unique and exhilarating experience.
I am a journalist in the Maldives where, well, due to the simplicities of life in islands, such technological expeditions in space are the farthest thing from the reality of our particular existence.
Your description was vivid and most surreal, as if I could see that breathtaking visual imagery myself.
I will never forget this.
Have a nice, er, day. :-D
Mar 21
2009
Thank you for the experience! So profound & beautiful. "Only looking forward does the day shine clearly."
Mar 23
2009
what a Poem!
what a wonderfull time, nowadays: blogging from the Space! wow!
:-)
yours, sincerily
maria toscano, from the south of the Europe ¿¿¿ s the name of my blog "means" : sul=south )
(mt: country: Portugal; city: Coimbra)
Mar 23
2009
Wow, thank you Sandra for that amazing piece. I am so grateful to hear those words and it's amzing to me as I look up and see you cross Michigan at night overhead that people in the ISS are up there. I see an amazing briliant dot floating by and your seeing billions of people floating by. Thank you for awesome job up there...way up there
Mar 24
2009
Thank you for sharing the Universe....
Hope your poetry never stop.
Mar 24
2009
Terrific....I have sat many an hour in my living room going around the Earth on the ISS and just taking in the awe of the whole experience. It is a beautiful thing without question and a joy to know that someone is really there who can actually appreciate and convey the experience. ThanX...in a big way .
Mar 24
2009
Es maravilloso Sandra, saludos de una poeta que esta en la tierra o la poeta del espacio. Te he enlazado a mi blog espero tus visitas espaciales.
Abrazos.
Mar 25
2009
Wise words of the poet of the stars. Thank you
Mar 26
2009
beautiful description!!! wow!
Mar 27
2009
Stunningly beautiful. Thank you, Sandra. Safe journey home.
Mar 28
2009
a wonderful and exciting creative work done by you
i salute your determination to write this blog in space.
hope you keep it up in future also
Mar 28
2009
Sandra first im big fan of your, Second what will say for 5 years old kid , that has dream one day he could be where you at. thanks.
Mar 28
2009
I had mostly given up my search for an inspiring "meditation"... until NOW! Adding beauty to the find, it's actually a REAL event! Thank you ...oh so much... for sharing in such an awe-inspiring way! (I've bookmarked it to share with my family tonight!)
Apr 05
2009
Thank you for sharing this entry. I too wish I was able to experience such an awe-inspiring sight. It would be a reality check to be placed in such an environment where we can see what a small part of the universe we are and how small and insignificant our problems are compared to the wonder and glory of God's creation.
Apr 06
2009
wow that is amazing what a beautiful description of earth maybe saying peaceful is a little much with all the power storms have. I wish life down on earth would sound like your description!
Apr 06
2009
This is truly humbling, and I'm jaded New Yorker. I felt myself at peace reading your post. A relaxing meditation. How truly blessed you are to be able to witness this miraculous view. Thank you for enlightening all of us.
Jun 17
2009
Sandra,
Its amazing to have someone to tell the reality from out there; as you read, it feels like a dream or well some science-fiction movie.
Nice reading your thoughts; and I feel, as you write this article, somewhere deep inside, you miss your Earth. Well, thats what I felt.
Thanks for sharing.
KMan.
Oct 16
2009
Sandra
Nothing happens as a coincidence. Everything is a masterfully crafted piece of creation including your trip.
You are a true Explorer and as all explorers do, they share their experiences to iluminate the minds of their students to the true potential of reality. The great masters of the past have also been great Poets and clearly you are a Master teacher your writing above demonstrates this.
Your story is illuminating. Nothing is real, it is an illusion called Maya. Everything is Energy. The Intelligence that creates the "movie" is the behind the scene operator or director. Apollo 14's story that changed one astraunaut's life experience should be read at http://www.edmitchellapollo14.com/edmbio.htm
We are all heading to the stars and the cosmic universe, have faith and read Sandra's poetry again and "imagine it in your minds eye".
Conquer Your Mind, Conquer the Universe - Nanak.