Axiom Spice plans to send the first private astronaut mission into space in less than a week, with the second Israeli astronaut Eitan Steve and his team Ax-1 to leave for the International Space Station on Wednesday. Steva spoke with Calcalist from Florida, where he is currently in quarantine prior to launch.
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There is a lot of excitement ahead of the flight. However, the launch was delayed due to NASA’s Artemis mission – a spacecraft that will fly to the moon. As soon as the Ax-1 crew returns – Team-4 is next in line. Their technology in space.
“I’m ready to fly,” Steva says in an exclusive interview with Calcalist. “We are so focused on what we have to do, the work plan, the required adjustments that are made in gravity. We are busy from morning to evening, talking to experienced astronauts who have taught us how to experiment in space – where objects float. Every experiment is a very complex procedure.”
The work, Steva noted, is primarily scientific, but he also plans to lecture in Hebrew to students in physics schools, on fluid therapy and how they are activated under zero gravity conditions and also on physiology. “Everything is different in space,” added Steve, who will also talk about the issue of preserving the Earth. “Earth is basically our spaceship and needs to be maintained. I believe the issue of sustainability is also critical. After all, the station is an amazing model in this aspect: we recycle water, everything works on solar energy, we grow wild plants, and produce food that is very calorie efficient.”
Regarding the international pressure around the war between Ukraine and Russia, are you worried that it will affect the situation on the International Space Station?
“Absolutely not, because this is really a large, international lab that has people working for the good of the planet, for the sake of peace, for the good of humanity. There are no political talks there. We don’t deal with it at all.
So you’re saying that in fact astronauts are beyond the conflicts that exist on Earth?
“You could say it’s like an American researcher in a Russian academy. He is not affected by this situation and continues his research. And continues to work. I do not think there is an impact on the work on the space station. There are Russian, American, German astronauts,” he says and hesitates, “and one Israeli. Astronauts. We meet, eat breakfast and dinner together, “there is an atmosphere of peace, he added.
The training, he noted, included a guide to where tools are located at the station, which will house 11 astronauts – including Steve and his crew. “Space in the space station is very limited, and we need to learn where everything is.” Even functioning in zero-gravity conditions is hard to get used to, and the team trained a lot in facilities at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. They also practiced the complex maneuvers needed to get into the SpaceX Dragon capsule and return home. The crew, Steve says, learned how to do routine things in space, like use the kitchen, prepare food and water and use the bathroom. “We also learned how to shower in space,” he added with a smile. “You can not really shower in space, but you can wash with a damp cloth, soap and dry shampoo.”
The crew’s work schedule will remain busy. Each astronaut has a detailed schedule to ensure that everyone has enough time to work on the experiments, connect the devices to a limited number of electrical outlets and photograph each step in the experimental process for learning purposes. “Everything is calculated up to a few minutes,” Steva said.
In addition, each astronaut is equipped with a personal computer, iPad and e-mail, and the means of communication are much more sophisticated than those that Ilan Ramon had 20 years ago. Astronauts can even have private zoom conversations with their families or get tested by a doctor on a private server through the zoom.
Have you been in touch recently with Israeli companies and research institutes? Because they are basically looking at you as someone who will solve all their problems through the experiments in space.
“Yes, I’m not just practicing the experiments themselves, the ones that are simpler – such as wearing the helmet to run software. In all the more complex experiments a team of scientists needs to teach us. Two weeks ago a team of scientists came to Houston and they helped us run the experiments. Now we “Practicing collecting medical information and all the medical tests it also involves. If you do not collect it correctly, the experiment went well – unpleasant at the station,” he smiled.
Do you have any thoughts about Ilan and what he thought before flying into space? Have you been thinking about him these last few days?
“Absolutely, because I also visited him at the Houston Institute who was still in training. We practiced on the facilities. 20 years have passed, but the facilities are the same facilities. There is still the flag of the Columbia ferry there.”
“In addition to what works in space, you leave space. It’s terribly expensive to renew tools in space – and build things there for future missions like a future human journey to the moon. Send new services to the station and start connecting them now. It’s part of the preparations for the future flight to the moon.”
Do you feel a sense of mission? When we talked a year ago, you were at the beginning of the journey but now you are going to fulfill the journey, this dream. How do you feel about being the first Israeli astronaut to return to us in peace?
“Defining it as a mission is a little big on me. I’m excited that so many people and companies – and kids in particular – will get excited with me and join this journey. A year ago, we thought it might interest a lot of people, but today it can interest several times more than we initially thought. The amount of requests there is amazes me over and over again. “
What is your message to Israelis who watch and get excited?
“That there is no dream too far away.”
The whole State of Israel wishes you a good trip. Fly in peace and come back in peace.
“There’s an English phrase called godspeed – do you know what that means?”
I think it’s a British phrase that wishes God would keep you. We intended to wish peace to the Queen of England.
“When I get back from space, find out for me, okay?”
Fine.
“See you from space.”