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CNN Live Today
Interview With Michael Foale, Alexander Kaleri
Aired December 17, 2003 - 10:09 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: Not even the Wright brothers are likely to have envisioned that their 12-second flight a century ago would lead to extended stays in space. But our next guests, they actually live and work in that leap science. Astronaut Michael Foale and Cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri are aboard the International Space Station. And they're joining us live.
Gentlemen, good morning, thank you for being with us.
MICHAEL FOALE, ASTRONAUT: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: It's great to have you here with us on CNN. Can you share with us your thoughts -- and, Michael, we'll start with you. Your thoughts on this historic day. The huge leap that has taken place from the Wright brothers to what you and your colleague are doing there in space?
FOALE: I think it's incredible when you think what's happened in a hundred years. It's astounding that maybe half a million people are in the air in at any one time above our planet Earth.
And that we, Alexander and myself are two people living above the atmosphere and moving around the Earth once every one and half hours. When you think that that goes back to a 12-second flight over 120 feet by Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903 is incredible.
KAGAN: I even have the use of a translator to make this more interesting, to talk to Alexander Kaleri.
So, Mr. Kaleri, let me ask you, do you remember as a boy growing up learning about the Wright brothers?
ALEXANDER KALERI, COSMONAUT (through translator): Yes, of course. We've heard and we read about the Wright brothers even when it was a school. I learned about them. There were many stories about our Russian flight pioneers, Russian pioneers of flying. I recall them, the Russian flight pioneers.
Of course, I was really impressed with all of that since in my own family, in my country, the attitude towards flight was very special. That's why I have chosen this profession.
KAGAN: And, Michael Foale, back to you since we're talking about flight history. You're making history of your own. As I understand it, you have now set the record for the most number of days in orbit as a U.S. astronaut. What do you think of being a part of your own space history? FOALE: I think it's a testament to the United States' interests and development of long duration spaceflight. I think the United States did a tremendous thing forming the partnership that makes up the International Space Station. I think it's leading to great diplomatic initiatives across planet Earth.
And I think it's a testament to all of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) stamina and dreams of people at NASA and outside of NASA that are in the Congress, thinking that this project is worthwhile.
So it's a great privilege to have been allowed to do this.
KAGAN: You are both long time veterans not just in the space station, but spent time aboard MIR as well. We are hearing talk in the states, some people pushing and perhaps President Bush talking about doing a different direction, perhaps going toward the moon instead and perhaps bypassing the International Space Station and trying to get straight to Mars.
What do you think about that push?
FOALE: I think anything that moves us on and further is a tremendous thing to have happen. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we spend many, many hours up here looking down on the Earth and one thing that we have thought of as an analogy is mountain climbing.
When people thought about climbing Everest for the first time or (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Pakistan, you have to from a base camp and you have put all your (UNINTELLIGIBLE) there and then work from that base camp further out to get to the peak.
I think of the International Space Station like the base camp to go to the moon. And I think the moon could be a great base camp to go on to Mars.
KAGAN: Well, gentlemen, we wish you well. I think by my calculations, you are half way through with this mission, is that right?
FOALE: OK I think we are a third of the way through, 200 days (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KAGAN: Very good. Well as we mentioned, you're both long-time space pioneers and have what it takes to spend time aboard the space station. Michael Foale, and Alexander Kaleri, gentlemen, good luck up there and thank you for your time on this historic day in the world of flight. Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 17, 2003 - 10:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Not even the Wright brothers are likely to have envisioned that their 12-second flight a century ago would lead to extended stays in space. But our next guests, they actually live and work in that leap science. Astronaut Michael Foale and Cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri are aboard the International Space Station. And they're joining us live.
Gentlemen, good morning, thank you for being with us.
MICHAEL FOALE, ASTRONAUT: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: It's great to have you here with us on CNN. Can you share with us your thoughts -- and, Michael, we'll start with you. Your thoughts on this historic day. The huge leap that has taken place from the Wright brothers to what you and your colleague are doing there in space?
FOALE: I think it's incredible when you think what's happened in a hundred years. It's astounding that maybe half a million people are in the air in at any one time above our planet Earth.
And that we, Alexander and myself are two people living above the atmosphere and moving around the Earth once every one and half hours. When you think that that goes back to a 12-second flight over 120 feet by Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903 is incredible.
KAGAN: I even have the use of a translator to make this more interesting, to talk to Alexander Kaleri.
So, Mr. Kaleri, let me ask you, do you remember as a boy growing up learning about the Wright brothers?
ALEXANDER KALERI, COSMONAUT (through translator): Yes, of course. We've heard and we read about the Wright brothers even when it was a school. I learned about them. There were many stories about our Russian flight pioneers, Russian pioneers of flying. I recall them, the Russian flight pioneers.
Of course, I was really impressed with all of that since in my own family, in my country, the attitude towards flight was very special. That's why I have chosen this profession.
KAGAN: And, Michael Foale, back to you since we're talking about flight history. You're making history of your own. As I understand it, you have now set the record for the most number of days in orbit as a U.S. astronaut. What do you think of being a part of your own space history? FOALE: I think it's a testament to the United States' interests and development of long duration spaceflight. I think the United States did a tremendous thing forming the partnership that makes up the International Space Station. I think it's leading to great diplomatic initiatives across planet Earth.
And I think it's a testament to all of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) stamina and dreams of people at NASA and outside of NASA that are in the Congress, thinking that this project is worthwhile.
So it's a great privilege to have been allowed to do this.
KAGAN: You are both long time veterans not just in the space station, but spent time aboard MIR as well. We are hearing talk in the states, some people pushing and perhaps President Bush talking about doing a different direction, perhaps going toward the moon instead and perhaps bypassing the International Space Station and trying to get straight to Mars.
What do you think about that push?
FOALE: I think anything that moves us on and further is a tremendous thing to have happen. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we spend many, many hours up here looking down on the Earth and one thing that we have thought of as an analogy is mountain climbing.
When people thought about climbing Everest for the first time or (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Pakistan, you have to from a base camp and you have put all your (UNINTELLIGIBLE) there and then work from that base camp further out to get to the peak.
I think of the International Space Station like the base camp to go to the moon. And I think the moon could be a great base camp to go on to Mars.
KAGAN: Well, gentlemen, we wish you well. I think by my calculations, you are half way through with this mission, is that right?
FOALE: OK I think we are a third of the way through, 200 days (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KAGAN: Very good. Well as we mentioned, you're both long-time space pioneers and have what it takes to spend time aboard the space station. Michael Foale, and Alexander Kaleri, gentlemen, good luck up there and thank you for your time on this historic day in the world of flight. Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com