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CNN Live Today

Interview with Peggy Whitson

Aired July 10, 2002 - 11:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: An American biochemist and two Russian cosmonauts arrived for duty at the International Space Station last month. Via satellite, they took CNN space correspondent Miles O'Brien on a look around their new home. Here's Miles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Just about a month into their tour of duty on the International Space Station now, for the fifth full-time crew, Expedition Five, is busy at work, working on some scientific experiments, working on the continued construction of the International Space Station. Let's check out where they are right now as we go to speak with them. They're traveling along at 17,500 miles an hour just over Canada, coming down in our direction here in Atlanta. During the course of this interview they will practically fly overhead some 250 miles above us. And with that, let's go on board and say hello to the crew of the International Space Station.

To your left, Peggy Whitson, flight engineer. In the center, of course, the commander Valery Korzun, and to his left, Sergei Treschev, another flight engineer. I know you're up-to-date on what's going on with the shuttle fleet. The shuttle fleet is on the ground for -- it could be quite a long time. Unclear right now because of some cracks in some fuel lines. I think no matter which way it goes, it's going to mean more time for you in space. Mentally, what are you prepared for? How long could you go before you'd scream uncle?

PEGGY WHITSON, FLIGHT ENGINEER: Actually, before we launched, even though our mission was originally supposed to be 4 1/2 months long, I assumed I would be here at least six months.

O'BRIEN: Peggy Whitson and the crew put together a tour for us not too long ago. And as they play the tape, Peggy is going to narrate for us and show us some of the highlights of what it's like to live on board the International Space Station.

WHITSON: We're starting off with our world map, our computer. It shows us where we are over the Earth. And I'm panning back and as I do so, you can see the aft end, or the rear end of the laboratory. And I just wanted to show you our little picture window in the lab, because everyone always asks, do you have windows and what can you see from them? Of course, unfortunately our video doesn't do justice to what you can actually see out these windows, but it is a very nice and interesting view anytime we have some spare time. I wanted to show you my sleep station. It -- and this is me inside of it, just to give you a feel for the size. And inside there I have my computer, as well as photos and books and things from home.

We have our HRF rack, human research facility rack. We have ultrasound and gas masks there. The gas analyzer helps us when we're doing our pulmonary functions experiments to test the effects of being in microgravity and in particular on EVA.

And then, off to the right of that rack, is our microgravity gravity sciences glove box. And I've been working with this a lot in the last week or so, getting it set up and configured. And this allows us to have a contained environment with us to do some of the more hazardous toxic materials experiments, and so -- because obviously, up here we don't have the option to open a window if we spill something. This containment system allows us to do some experiments a little more interesting to the materials scientists on Earth.

And as we exit the laboratory at the back, we enter the node and we have our exercise gear here, our resistance exercise device, called the RED. And it shows us doing a few little experiments. Or a few exercises, excuse me.

And then, off to the left here in the video, what we could call the starboard side of the station, is our -- U.S. airlock, the joint airlock. This came up on Seven A (ph) awhile back, and it was very busy during our initial stay here when U.S. Two was here. We had three EVA's out of that.

And the area with all the supplies in the back behind me is actually the area where the crew members egress. And you can see I was hanging onto the suits, two of our suits that we have configured now.

One of the other really great things for us in the node, we have, is the IP phone. And this phone allows us to call folks at home.

Here, further, we're entering into the SED. Valery is showing you how we wash our hair on orbit. And you can see behind him are some of the red and blue boxes on the floor are our food containers for Expedition Five and Expedition Six. And here we see the treadmill. And Larry working out on the treadmill. And here's our -- our table. We have access to water right next to the table so we can re-hydrate our foods as necessary. And here's Valery showing you how we eat in space.

O'BRIEN: All right, Peggy Whitson. I'm told by the folks in Houston that we are out of time, unfortunately. We had some questions for you, but maybe we will do it another time. Maybe give us call sometime on that fancy Internet phone. Thanks, too, to you, Valery Korzun and Sergei Treschev for your time and for the extra special tour, stem to stern of the International Space Station. Now one month into your tour of duty, maybe four, maybe five or maybe even longer months to come in space -- back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Miles, thank you very much.

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