Interview de James Voss, astronaute de la NASA qui a effectué 5 missions spatiales

James S. Voss est ingénieur aérospatial.

Il commence à travailler pour la NASA à la fin de ses études tout en continuant un cursus militaire (Flight Test Engineer de l’US Army, major de sa promotion de l’US Naval Flight Test School à Patuxent River).

Dès 1984, il travaille à temps plein au Johnson Space Center en tant que Vehicle Integration Test Engineer pour les missions STS-51D, STS-51F, STS-61C et STS-51L.

Après l’accident de Challenger, il fait partie de l’équipe d’investigation.

Il est sélectionné comme astronaute par la NASA en 1987 dans le groupe.

Il effectue 5 missions spatiales (STS-44 / STS-53 / STS-69 / STS-101 et Expedition 2).

Il quitte la NASA en 2003 et est actuellement Vice-Président de la société Spacedev où il s’occupe du Dreamchaser.

Interview réalisée en avril 2012

James Voss nous parle ici de sa première mission STS-44.

How many years were you connected to the space program prior to your flight ?

19 years ! I began to work in Johnson Space Center in 1984 (was graduated with a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 1974)

How did you feel prior to the flight ?

Excited ! Very very excited to be going to space !

What kinds of sensations did you experienced during take-off ?

Vibration and high G forces through my chest.

What does weightlessness feel like, and what did you think about during the flight ?

Floating like in a swimming pool.

What were some of the problems you encountered and how did you fixed them ?

Humidity separator failed – Put a plastic bag over it to contain water.

What did you eat, and did it taste real ?

Normal food packaged for space. Very good taste.

What was re-entry like ?

Great ! Increasing G forces that felt higher than they actually were.

Were you glad to be back on Earth, or did you feel you could have spent the rest of your life up there ?

Yes ! come back was good ! And no, but spend a few months more, maybe !