NASA Highlight: Astronaut Kjell Lindgren
Kjell N. Lindgren was chosen by NASA in 2009. Born in Taiwan
whereas his household was stationed abroad, he spent most of his childhood overseas and returned to the U.S. to finish his training and earn a Doctorate of Medication from the College of Colorado. He’s board licensed in emergency and aerospace drugs. After serving because the Deputy Crew Surgeon for House Shuttle mission STS‐130 and Expedition 24, he was chosen to affix our astronaut corps. Dr. Lindgren flew on the Worldwide House Station from July 2015 to December 2015 and logged 141 days in house. He participated in two spacewalks and in additional than 100 totally different scientific experiments. In his free time, Dr. Lindgren enjoys spending time along with his household, operating, studying, motion pictures, images and beginner astronomy.
He took a while from being a NASA astronaut to reply questions on his life and profession! Take pleasure in:
What’s one factor you’d take to house that might make life simpler?
An actual R2 unit, after all! Simply kidding, however sooner or later… Actually although, life is fairly good on the Worldwide House Station. Whereas it’s nonetheless rather a lot like tenting (sleeping luggage, no operating water, rehydrated meals) the house station workforce has actually geared up us for fulfillment. As you all put together for YOUR future spaceflight, I might say that the 2 most helpful gadgets I had with me each day had been a pair of scissors and a spoon. The scissors had been tremendous helpful for reducing plastic wrappers, tape, and many others., and opening meals packages (way more helpful than a knife). And the spoon is the one utensil you want for consuming – not less than with the meals system that we’ve got proper now.
Who helped get you to the place you’re?
Getting this chance, changing into an astronaut – that was a workforce effort for certain. I had so many individuals strolling alongside me on this journey, serving to me alongside the best way. My mother and father set the bit early on – telling me that I may change into no matter I wished by way of onerous work. They actually gave me permission to dream huge. Lecturers and coaches, mentors, co-workers and buddies all performed an enormous half in reaching this aim. Most of all, although, my spouse, Kristi and my three youngsters have been an integral a part of this journey. I might not have this job, and I wouldn’t achieve success in it with out their love and day by day assist.
You and your crew mates had been the primary astronauts to reap lettuce grown on orbit. How did it style?
The lettuce tasted like…lettuce, which was a great factor, as a result of if it hadn’t, then it meant we had made an enormous mistake. It was a lot enjoyable to be part of that experiment. The payoff, attending to eat contemporary grown meals on orbit was after all, plenty of enjoyable. However simply attending to deal with the lettuce plant, watch it develop within the sterile trying atmosphere of the house station, attending to deal with this dwelling factor each day, it was good for the soul.
How do you put together for somebody getting damage or sick in house?
We prepare not less than two crew members on each expedition to be Crew Medical Officers, or CMOs. They spend about 40 – 50 hours studying the right way to use the medical gear and procedures on the house station, in order that they’ll basically function an extension of the flight surgeon in mission management. Now we have gear and drugs to cope with most minor diseases and accidents. However as a result of we’re in low earth orbit, we are able to evacuate an sick crew member again to Earth within the occasion of a extreme medical difficulty. This selection gained’t be accessible as we push out farther from Earth, so we’ll want extra rigorous coaching and a extra complete medical system.
What number of occasions did you apply to be an astronaut?
I used to be very lucky and acquired chosen on my first strive. I’ve a number of buddies within the workplace although, who utilized 4 or 5 occasions earlier than being chosen. It’s superb to undergo the choice course of and to fulfill others who share your dream. Benefit from the expertise and maintain making use of – it’s value it!
How can I enhance my probabilities of being chosen to change into an astronaut?
I like to recommend persevering with to do issues that you just take pleasure in, proceed to construct expertise at work and possibly search for new alternatives in your job that can develop you in your profession and develop you as a frontrunner. However select alternatives as a result of YOU need to do them, not primarily based on what you assume NASA is on the lookout for. There isn’t any one path or expertise that results in changing into an astronaut. Now we have a tremendous range of expertise and background within the astronaut workplace.
What recommendation do you might have for the latest astronauts?
Benefit from the journey! Spaceflight is superb, however whilst astronauts, most of us spend 95% of our profession on the bottom. Take pleasure in each a part of the job, supporting missions as a Spacecraft Communicator (CapCom), verifying procedures for a restore or coaching for a spacewalk. It’s superb to be part of the workforce that launches and helps people dwelling and dealing in house. It’s a tremendous factor.
Which is extra thrilling: spacewalking or skydiving?
Skydiving was fairly superb. I acquired to do fairly a little bit of it as a member of the Air Power Academy parachute workforce. However there’s nothing fairly like doing a spacewalk. It’s an indescribable expertise, placing a whole bunch of hours of coaching to work, the bodily and psychological problem of working in that harsh atmosphere. However the view exterior the house station, of the Earth, the celebs, the construction of the house station – it was a spotlight of my time in house and one thing I’ll always remember.
What’s probably the most fascinating half about coaching with the Dragon capsule?
It has been superior working with the NASA and SpaceX groups as we’re getting ready to launch within the Crew Dragon capsule. My favourite a part of the expertise has all the time been and continues to be the individuals. Safely sending people to house and again is without doubt one of the most troublesome issues humanity has ever performed. That problem attracts the most effective and brightest individuals from throughout our nation. Attending to work with these people at NASA and at SpaceX, to expertise their enthusiasm, dedication and ingenuity each day is a present. It has additionally been plenty of enjoyable seeing a unique strategy to human spaceflight. I’m very accustomed to how NASA and the Russian House Company Roscosmos function. It has been enjoyable seeing a unique perspective and strategy.
Are you able to share your favourite photograph or video that you just took in house?
Sure! That is my favourite photograph of the Milky Approach, with a lightning strike illuminating a photo voltaic array.
Thanks Dr. Lindgren, and good luck in your subsequent spaceflight!
Make sure that to observe us on Tumblr on your common dose of house: http://nasa.tumblr.com.
