Exclusive: NASA astronaut talks about Russian leaders threatening to abandon him

HOUSTON, Texas — NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei broke an American document for spending essentially the most time in house, however there may be a lot dialogue in his first information convention again on Earth that targeted on what was occurring 250 miles beneath.

NEARLY A YEAR IN SPACE

Two-hundred and fifty miles above Earth weighs on you once you spend almost a yr away from household, and pals.

“I am glad to be again,” Vande Hei mentioned. “If it ended up being 300 days, I nonetheless would’ve felt actually good in regards to the mission. It was not (for me) about any document in any respect.”

Vande Hei landed per week in the past. He spent 355 days in house. On Tuesday, he addressed the media from the Johnson Area Heart. He talked about his mission crammed with experiments, that continues at this time. NASA will monitor his physique to see the impacts of house journey because the company prepares to go into deep house.

“I used to be in a position to stroll alone inside eight hours, actually wobbly, however eight hours later,” Vande Hei recalled.

NASA ASTRONAUT ADDRESSES WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING IN SPACE AS RUSSIAN SPACE LEADERS THREATENED TO ABANDON HIM

Most of Tuesday’s information convention wasn’t spent on what occurred in house, however beneath. After the invasion of Ukraine, Russian house leaders threatened the U.S. relationship with the house station.

Vande Hei finally returned to Earth on a Russian capsule, nevertheless it was unsure after Russian leaders appeared to need to depart him in house.

SEE ALSO: US astronaut ends record-long spaceflight in Russian capsule

“Fairly actually, I heard in regards to the tweets from my spouse,” Vande Hei recalled. “I by no means perceived these tweets to take significantly.”

Because the conflict continues, Russian house leaders proceed to make threats. Thus far, NASA mentioned it hasn’t ruined house relations.

Vande Hei hopes it continues that approach.

“The way forward for the house station, and battle between Russia and america, actually I feel that is why we have been in a position to have a global house station,” Vande Hei defined. “Some individuals that do not care a lot about house, worldwide relations, and having an area station the place we will cooperate. I feel is basically for peaceable future.”

WHAT WAS UP WITH THE RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS WEARING UKRAINIAN COLORS AS THEY BOARDED THE SPACE STATION?

Vande Hei was requested in regards to the cosmonauts that traveled to the house station sporting blue, and yellow fits in late March. These are the colours of Ukraine’s flag.

Vande Hei mentioned the cosmonauts have been “blindsided” by the response. He mentioned they did not put on the colours to make a political assertion.

The cosmonauts went to the identical college, whose colours are yellow, and blue.

That wasn’t the one conflict in Ukraine matter that was mentioned on the house station.

“It was not a subject I shied away from with my crewmates,” Vande Hei recalled. “They weren’t very lengthy discussions, however I did ask them how they have been feeling and typically requested pointed questions.”

Vande Hei would not get into specifics, however he mentioned he continues to be pals with the cosmonauts.

“Talking particularly about my relationship with my Russian crewmates, they have been, are and can proceed to be very expensive pals of mine,” Vande Hei mentioned. “We supported one another by all the pieces.”

‘GAUCAMOLE WAS AMAZING’: AFTER 355 DAYS, VANDE HEI COULDN’T WAIT FOR EARTH COMFORTS

As soon as on Earth, Vande Hei could not wait to see household, but additionally get pleasure from a few of his favourite meals.

“Possibly it is the actual fact I hadn’t had guacamole in 355 days, however that guacamole was wonderful,” Vande Hei recalled. “It was actually good.”

He could also be again on Earth, however he is not completed together with his restoration. Spending that lengthy in house takes a toll on the physique, and Vande Hei says he has to do two hours of bodily remedy daily, together with on weekends. Docs may even carefully monitor his well being. He mentioned it is value it as a result of he hopes what they be taught will assist future astronauts spend much more time than him in house.

“I am actually trying ahead to the subsequent individual doing one thing longer and us getting additional, and additional away and us exploring extra,” Vande Hei mentioned. “I would like this to be remembered as a stepping stone.”

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