I’m NASA astronaut Scott Tingle. Ask me anything about adjusting to being back on Earth after my first spaceflight!

How long did it take to remember to catch things after letting go of them?

Ha! Well, in space, we actually train our selves to not let go of things because the airflow moves them away from us.....and then we lose them! But it did take a week or two to react what we would define as normal on Earth.

What food were you craving the most upon return home after eating space food?

I wanted a hamburger! And I had one :-)

What do you think while on the launchpad about to launch?

I was really just thinking about doing my job and making sure I did everything correctly.

Hi Mr. Tingle,

In February I spoke with you from Moore Square Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, NC along with several very lucky students through ARISS and ham radio. I was the ham radio operator who initiated the contact with you, John Brier KG4AKV. Will you be speaking in public any time in the future so I can thank you in person for your wonderful conversation with us from space? Regardless, thank you!

73, John Brier KG4AKV

Video from our contact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbWUywvZrMw

Hello John! It is great to hear from you here, as it was on HAM last February - THANK YOU!!! Not sure when I'll get to NC, but look forward to meeting you in person if we can make it happen. Please be safe in the hurricane, and we are thinking about you and the Moore Square Magnet Middle School as you weather the storm!

How do you cope with the trip to and from the ISS. I know its incredibly cramped quarters and I imagine you're unable to move around much (if at all). How do you pass the time? What do you do to remain somewhat comfortable? If I remember correctly, its about a 2 day trip each way.

Yes, Soyuz is very tight. It takes almost 9 minutes to get to low earth orbit. After main engine cutoff, we have a couple hours of procedures to do and then we can get out of our suits for a few hours and stretch out in the bO (living compartment). Two and a half days sounds like a long time to in the space vehicle, but it wasn't too bad and I enjoyed the time with my crewmates. I slept for a few hours upside down - which slowed the fluid shift to my head as well :-) (ie., the Soyuz is in solar spin).

Hoping on this comment, I gotta know what you do to pass the time

By the time we get there - we have had several days of preparation and are a little sleep deprived.....so we eat, and we sleep.

How did you feel physically after returning to earth? And has it been hard readjusting?

Initially I felt great. But after my back started adjusting to gravity, I began to feel fatigue and a little pain. We have a wonderful reconditioning program, though, and our professionals at the astronaut gym got me fully back up to speed in approx 7 weeks.

What was the coolest thing you ever saw/did while up there? Like what took you back and just completely stunned you?

I didn't have any real big surprises, but I was honored to be working with a team with such great talent and capability. Seeing Earth through the Cupola windows reaffirmed my knowledge of how wonderful our planet is.

Is there anything you missed being able to do or see that you did after you got back (after you recovered enough)? Like hiking or a favorite spot in nature? Going to see a movie? etc. Thank you for answering my question and for what you do.

I rode my motorcycle :-)

Are you related to chuck tingle?

Not that I know of!

How's the PR and media piece after returning to earth? What portion of your time/career is dedicated to telling NASA's story, and how is that perceived in the public's eye?

Outreach events are going great....we have a wonderful team that helps us tell the public about all of the great things we are doing to advance space exploration. It's always a rewarding experience to meet and talk with the diverse audiences that we get to meet after flying in space!

Not really about adjusting to earth but: I would think you try to exercise when able to in space to not lose too much muscle mass. How do you do that? Powerball? Elastic bands?

Yes - we exercise for 2.5 hours every day while on International Space Station (ISS). Our resistive exercise device (ARED) provides us with excellent weight training activity that minimizes bone loss and keeps our muscles conditioned.

Was it hard to get used to sleep in space?

No. We are very busy working long hard days on ISS, and falling alseep was very easy. There is lots of white noise on station, and I slept very soundly.

What do you miss the most from space being back on earth?

There are five things I'll miss about space. I wrote about them in a journal entry - while I was actually in space! https://nasa.tumblr.com/post/174436148699/astronaut-journal-entry-the-last-week

Thank you for your service to humanity! I have two questions:

• What was something about the whole experience that was completely different to what you expected it would be despite all the training?

• What did you personally learn/how did you personally grow from this experience?

Our training was very accurate and we are very good about operating in space right now. So, nothing unexpected occured for me. I love working with the incredible team that makes this program operate as well as it does - this was my most special reward.

How great was it to go back to using regular gravity-powered toilets?

It was good to be back on Earth for sure. The toilet we use in space, though, is very easy to use.

It's beautiful out there. Do you feel kind of "homesick" for space?

Yes, I miss the unique environment of space and I hope to return again someday. There is nothing like being home, though, on beautiful Earth!

Now you've been in space where would you most like to go next?

Honestly, living quietly and enjoying some quality time with my family is what we will do.

So I have to know, did you see any UFO's while in orbit?

No

How could I start a career to be an astronaut? I am fresh out of high school.

You'll need to get a really good education. So work very hard to do well in a STEM curriculum and try to get some operational experience too (Peace Corps, Flying, Team Sports, Rock Climbing, Camping...etc).

Hi Scott,

So you mentioned 5 things you’d miss about being in space. What are 5 things that you’re glad to not have to do or things you won’t miss from space?

Thanks!

Not sure that I have five, but I am happy to not be in the middle of VERY busy schedules as we typically have in an operational environment. Also happy that I can find my socks without digging through 5 layers of stowage.

How much time it takes for your leg's muscles to become healthy again? ☺️

Our recovery program is 6.5 weeks. We are generally in great shape after this recovery period where we workout and stretch every day at the gym.

Hi Maker,

What was it like going back to a normal work schedule without the red line?

Also, did you ever get a copy of the Saturn V poster that I got you to sign in Huntsville?

Yes - getting back on a normal schedule takes a little time to adjust to. Sometimes I pace a little - but I'm always excited about STEM and flying in space anyway. Yep - got the poster. THANK YOU!

How did it feel to spacewalk?
Did you have any unexpected challenges adjusting back to life on Earth?

The spacewalk was very cool! We all work very hard for years training to spacewalk safely and efficiently. Going out the hatch was a great feeling of accomplishment after all of the training. No unexpected challenges back on Earth, and the recovery went as planned.

How does it feel not to swallow your toothpaste again?

I never swallowed my toothpaste on orbit. Most of us just spit it out into a dry wipe and throw it away.