Thomas ''Tom'' Jones est un astronaute de la NASA sélectionné en 1990 dans le Groupe 13. Ancien pilote de l'US Air Force (pilote de B-52D Stratofortress), il passe un doctorat de Science Planétaire après avoir quitté l'USAF.
Il a effectué 4 missions spatiales en tant que Mission Specialist (STS-59, 68, 80 et 98) avant de quitter la NASA en 2001. Il a effectué 3 EVA lors de ses missions.
Actuellement consultant et écrivain.
Il a écrit en 2006 SKY WALKING, ses mémoires. C'est le livre dont il fait référence au cours de cette interview.
Il a également son propre site internet
Interview réalisée en 2009
How many years were you connected to the space program before your 1st flight ?
See details in my book ''Sky Walking'' at my website : http://www.astronauttomjones.com/. Researcher since 1985, joined NASA in 1990. First flight in 1994.
How did you feel prior the flight ?
Eager to go, prepared, but nervous about whether I would be able to perform well in the space environment.
What kinds of sensations did you experienced during take-off ?
See ''Sky Walking'' -- tremendous sense of acceleration, at being hurled into space by a marvelous machine.
What does weightlessness feel like, and what did you think about the flight ?
During relaxed moments, it feel like floating on your back in a deep pool of warm water. Getting the job was my 1st priority. The view is what I enjoyed consistently.
What were some of the problems have you encountered and how did you fixed them ?
See ''Sky Walking''. Few problems; most were ably solved by the ground team. Our biggest worry for the first few days was a water system that ingested cabin air and mix air bubbles with our water. Not very good for the digestion.
What did you eat, and did it taste real ?
Favourite entree : ''Fiesta Chicken'' -- Thermo-stabilized chicken in a spicy salsa sauce. Very good.
What was Re-entry like ?
See ''Sky Walking'' for details, but I very much enjoyed the spectacular light show of the plasma wrapped around the shuttle, and the anticipation of our landing back home, with our families watching.
Were you glad to be back on Earth, or did you feel you could have spent the rest of your life up there ?
I enjoyed returning to Earth. Space travel is a hard work ! I needed a vacation !
Crédit : Collection Stéphane Sebile / Spacemen1969
Space Quotes - Souvenirs d'espace
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