North Allegheny students get a world of information from NA astronaut Woody Hoburg

Where do astronauts sleep?

NASA astronaut and North Allegheny grad Dr. Warren “Woody” Hoburg has the answer, and told NA students that astronauts get their rest while floating in a sleeping bag attached to a wall inside their spacecraft.

Hoburg, who is part of the space station’s Expedition 69 crew, answered that pre-recorded question from NA freshman Tyler Lazar and others from NA students during a NASA Educational Downlink on April 25 that was shown at a public viewing party April 27 at Marshall Middle School.

NA science teachers worked with schools in the district to collect questions about all things space. Teagan Woods, a fourth-grader at Marshall Elementary, asked Hoburg what his favorite things were about his mission.

“I love being in space. And I think my favorite part is the variety. We’re always working on something different,” Hoburg said.

The downside, though, is that the time is going by too quickly, and he knows his space mission will end soon.

Frankie Omasits, a kindergartner at McKnight Elementary, wanted to know what Hoburg brought to space. The astronaut showed his photos from home, an NA track letter from when he ran cross country at North Allegheny High School and a Terrible Towel.

In response to senior Kay Mi’s question about microgravity, a condition in which objects seem to be weightless, Hoburg said, “It’s a lot of fun. There’s no up or down since every orientation is the same.”

Astronauts have handrails to pull or stabilize themselves. And astronauts’ faces look “puffy” because of the lack of gravitational pull, thus causing lots of fluid shift.

Riya Pasrija, an eighth-grader at Marshall Middle, asked when Hoburg decided to become an astronaut. He responded that it looked like a really cool job when he was young. But his advice was that there is no right way or certain path to become an astronaut. What matters is working hard, especially on things you’re passionate about.

Ryan Boyer, an eighth grader at Carson Middle School, wanted to know what was the most challenging thing was in space.

Space walking, Hoburg replied, basically walking outside the craft to fix things, which is a physical and mental challenge.

Woody told senior Aidan Mulkearns that food aboard the space station is prepared by the Johnson Space Center food lab, and “it’s actually really good.” The Marshall native said he’s part of a scientific study where he’s eating lots of fish and other nutrients to see their effects on the body in space.

He demonstrated by preparing a pre-made vegetable casserole and a broccoli cheese dish that can be re-hydrated, which he filled with hot water.

“It’s an absolutely delicious meal,” he said.

However, he told Louisa Silvernail, first-grader at Marshall Elementary, that he is looking forward to coming home and eating salad, since astronauts don’t have many fresh fruits and vegetables.

He told Sunday McGraw, third grader at McKnight Elementary, that it’s fun to fly a space rocket, going 17,500 miles per hour. But when it docks, it only travels 3 inches per second.

Hoburg told NA senior Donald Collins that two or three space walks are scheduled for June to install new solar arrays and upgrades.

And, yes, he told Zoe Rieck, a third grader at McKnight, astronauts do have some periods of Internet coverage in space. But to junior Ruby Morris’ question about whether there are any pranks among astronauts, Hoburg said not too much. But they do have fun, including an ongoing chess match with mission control.

As response to freshman Stephanie Chen’s question about exercising, Hoburg said it’s really important because astronauts aren’t really exerting a lot of energy in space. To keep healthy astronauts use a cardio bike, a treadmill, and resistive exercises for about two hours every day.

He told sophomore Marco Calso he relaxes by looking out the window and taking pictures.

Marshall Middle School seventh-grader Aran Vallespi wanted to know what Hoburg was thinking the day of the launch.

First, he said he remembered feeling prepared and amazed at how calm he was on the way to the launch. But secondly, the sense of adventure.

“Nothing can fully prepare you for climbing a giant rocket and launching into space,” Hoburg said.

“Seeing a rocket lit up on the launch pad. I will never forget what that looked like.”