• Question: what is the trip to space like ?

    Asked by 967spce27 to Aisling, Colin, Laurence, Ned, Niamh on 9 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Aisling Shannon

      Aisling Shannon answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      Hi, none of us have been to space, but from hearing what Astronauts say about it, it is really tough on the body going through the launch and also coming back down to Earth. If you ever see on TV images of an astronaut after landing, you will always see them with two guys beside them holding them up, or else they are on a chair with blankets over them… It is a really rough ride back to Earth.

    • Photo: Laurence O'Rourke

      Laurence O'Rourke answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      Hi there, never been on a trip to space but there is no doubt that it is most likely a mix between a roller coaster and one of those rides which lifts you up to a height and drops you suddenly. A lot of fun but you have to train very hard to be able to deal with it, especially if something goes wrong on the way up or down and you have to react quickly.

    • Photo: Ned Dwyer

      Ned Dwyer answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      I´ve never been so I don´t know, but I imagine it would be exilirating. The sensation of all those G-forces as you try to leave the grip of Earth´s gravity must be a huge adrenalin rush as well as being a bit scary. Then when you arrive in space and feel a weightlessness must be a bit like swimming except an even lighter feeling. People who spend a long time in space take a while to adjust to being back on Earth both physically and psychologically.

    • Photo: Colin Shirran

      Colin Shirran answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      I have never been but I can imagine that it shakes you like crazy! Have you ever been on a roller coaster that suddenly accelerates from a stationary position? Remember that feeling of pressure on your chest as you are pushed back into your seat? It’s just like that only a bit more pressure and for a much longer time. Typically astronauts will experience 3gs during launch which is essentially experiencing 3 times the force of gravity on earth. So it can be pretty uncomfortable and nauseating. All worth it though, I can imagine, for that weightless feeling.

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