NASA Astronaut Shannon Lucid came to WIUU

Six year ago, Dr. Shannon Lucid, NASA astronaut came to WIUU to speak to my freshmen students in the fall of 2001.  What a thrill to hear this wise, accomplished woman, who happens to be a Grandma, talk about her 5-6 months up on the Space Station Mir and her time spent with two Russian cosmonauts, the two Yuris.  We wondered how they could tell one Yuri from the other when their name was called.  In such close quarters up in space, she claimed it was not a problem.

 

My Ukrainian students were in awe of this universe traveller, as I was, because Shannon seemed so “down to earth” and not wanting to have any publicity or any of the limelight.  She said that from outer space she and her fellow space travellers could see Mongolia had a forest fire and they reported to Earth what they observed.  Sure enough, the people in Ulan Bataar didn’t even realize it until they were notified.  Shannon had a special interest in Mongolia and traveled there to visit after her week long visit in Kyiv.

 

Shannon spoke of one recurring question that she was asked upon her return to earth by those who were skeptics.  They asked, “Did you see God up in outer space?”  She told us her answer was, “No, and I’m glad I didn’t see God because, if only the privileged few who get to fly as an astronaut or cosmonaut are the only ones able to see God, that would leave all the rest of the world out. God can be seen in every intricate detail around us on earth.”  She spoke with authority as a Ph.D. in biochemistry and with a clear Christian emphasis.

 

As a seasoned pilot, Shannon would commute back and forth from her Texas home to Washington D.C. since she had a prominent government position in DC after her months in space.  Shannon currently holds a world space record for Americans and for women. I nominate Shannon Lucid as my ideal woman for International Women’s Day!!! (BTW, she also roller blades!!!)