As onboard computing power increases and the distance from Earth becomes greater, spacecraft will become even more autonomous. This shift has a significant impact on the skillsets required from astronauts. What remains unchanged, however, are the most important skills: Teamwork and international collaboration!
We had the opportunity of speaking to one of the most senior NASA astronauts, Stanley G. Love, PhD, during his visit to Vienna. Stan is not only an experienced astronaut, but also a scientist and senior advisor to NASA on the HMI (Human-Machine Interface) between the Lunar Gateway and visiting astronauts. He gave us his expert insights on the Gateway program and shared his first-hand experiences of mission and technical training, as well as working in space.
The interview highlights topics such as:
- What it feels like to perform a spacewalk
- How astronauts prepare for space travel
- The technical aspects of astronaut training and missions
- The Gateway program and its purpose
- What innovations can be found on Gateway
- How Gateway’s operation will differ to that of the ISS
- The new distribution of tasks between space agencies and industry
