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Out of this world visit

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brok McCarthy
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia recently had the opportunity to visit with astronauts here who were touring bases in the Middle East and Germany, courtesy of Armed Forces Entertainment.

The six-member team of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission, which returned to Earth Nov. 30, gave a briefing and signed autographs during their morale and welfare visit Monday.

"We were really looking forward to visiting the men and women who defend our country overseas," said STS-126 Commander Chris Ferguson, a Navy captain. "Although our jobs are different, we know it's tough being away from family and friends--and being far from home. As a military family, we know that support and a pat on the back go a long way.

"It's a real privilege for us to visit the people out here who do the real work. Hopefully we provided a bit of entertainment and distraction while we're here," the captain said.

During the visit, Captain Ferguson and his team of five astronauts, four of whom are in the military, showed a video at the base theater detailing what the crew did during their 16-day space trip. The event was also televised on the base's closed circuit system so those on-duty could see the astronauts.

The other astronauts were Air Force Col. Eric Boe, the mission pilot, and mission specialists Navy Capt. Stephen Bowen, Navy Capt. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Army Lt. Col. Shane Kimbrough and Dr. Donald Pettit.

A large part of the briefing detailed their mission; delivering new station equipment including a water recovery system, additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet and an exercise device. They also showed video of parts of their four space walks to service the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow its solar arrays to track the sun. They also installed new hardware, which will support future assembly missions.

After the briefing, the floor was opened up for questions, during which the astronauts were asked about everything from space elevators to what per diem they receive, which is $3 per day while in space.

"This is the first time in Armed Forces Entertainment's 55 year history that we have hosted astronauts on a tour to visit our troops overseas," said Col. Edward Shock, chief of Armed Forces Entertainment. "And with this crew, it makes it even more poignant--since five of the six crew members are U.S. military themselves. They know the risks and the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make, and have a deep appreciation for their dedication."

He said the idea for this tour actually came from NASA, who wanted to do something different and provide something special to people stationed overseas.

"I think everyone involved got a lot out of the astronauts visiting," said Colonel Shock. "It's great for the servicemembers because this is like bringing a little piece of America out here for them on their deployment. But the astronauts got a lot out of it too. Most of them have been at NASA for 12 or 14 years. So this trip was kind of a refresher to help them get back to their roots."

Earlier in the day, the six astronauts were given a tour of base operations including a meet and greet with B-1B Lancer maintainers, a bus tour of the flightline, Combined Air Operations Center and a dining facility where they had dinner with servicemembers.

Many Airmen said they were looking forward to hearing what the astronauts had to say when they heard about the event.

"It's great motivation for those of us who might not have seen our families for a few months, especially for the guys who are PCSd here for a year and haven't been home in six months," said Senior Airman Karl McGarvey, a 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron information assurance manager, deployed here from the Indiana Air National Guard's 181st Intelligence Wing at Terre Haute. "It's like getting a taste of the American Dream all over again. It just rebuilds that motivation to get up tomorrow and go to work, do the job and get the fight for freedom going."