Rich Conversations: 023. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth

Show notes from episode 023 of Rich Conversations: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.

This book was lent to me by my friend, Grace. I really appreciate our relationship. Each time we meet we swap books. I like that she has different interests than me—it helps round out my learning a little more. This last book was An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Col. Chris Hadfield.

At Christmas, my brother and I gave our nephews spacesuits—pajama like clothing with a bonnet-like helmet. They’re really into space and astronauts. They immediately put them on, abandoned opening other presents, and just started zooming around the house. So recently, when I was back in Wisconsin, I said to my nephew Leonard, “I’m reading a book about an astronaut right now. What’s your favorite thing about astronauts?”

“They’re in space,” he replied. “We build our own rocket ships at home.”

It reminded me of how probably all astronauts start, including for Col. Chris Hadfield. As a kid, they have an enormous dream to go to space. SPACE. This book that I read was written by a guy who went to space—unbelievable! Tell me everything!

The biggest takeaway from reading this is Preparation and Purpose. It’s not romantic. You have to study, learn, and test all the time. You have to practice every single day. Aside from having the brain power and tenacity for competition, you have to be a particular size, and be in very good physical shape. Many apply but only a few make it. Even as an astronaut, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll go to space. It goes without saying, you have to have a strong sense of purpose and duty to endure everything. NASA doesn’t send people to space so they can have fun and fulfill a childhood dream—they need work done. And millions of taxpayer’s dollars are on the line. People’s lives are on the line. There are no higher stakes.

You have to be able to do everything. EVERYTHING. What if there are three people on board a ship and one has a medical background, but then they are unable to help? Everyone has to know everything.

One of the stories that stuck out to me as when Hadfield was doing a spacewalk. A spacewalk is any time an astronaut goes outside the vehicle to perform a task. He teared up from the sight—you know, being in space. But with no gravity, his tears stayed in his eyes and he was blinded. So here this dude is literally in space and can’t see, and he’s relying on communication from Houston to get him through it. After resolving that issue, he has to fix a satellite that will require at least eight hours. Stakes are high. Prepare for the worst but expect the best. Keep calm and work together. Remember that everyone’s job is important. We all gotta do it to make the world go round. What a humbling book.

I’m looking to add more science and technology books to my queue if you have any recommendations.