Dr. Cady Coleman on Navigating Space Isolation in “Space: The Longest Goodbye”

Beyond the Mic with Sean Dillon

"It's about communication and connection, and you're with a group of people that become your family."

Welcome Dr. Cady Coleman

We’re joined on the Starline by a chemist, engineer, former Air Force colonel, wife, musician, retired NASA astronaut who has logged more than 180 days in space and most importantly mom.

She’s featured in a new documentary “Space: The Longest Goodbye”. We welcome Dr. Cady Coleman.

Cady, let’s go Beyond the Mic. I could spend hours asking you about your flute duet with Ian Anderson, but in “Space: The Longest Goodbye” the challenge is surviving a three year trip to Mars without real time communications with Earth. You’ve flown on the space shuttle and in on a Soyuz. What is the biggest challenge psychologically from your experience?

You are one of a small group of people who have seen the darkness of space first hand, how did you mentally prepare yourself for the isolation of space?

If you could tell future astronauts one thing before they go up, what is it?

The Rockin' 8:

It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.

1. Favorite astronaut meal was?

2. Who gave you your 1st flute and do you still have it?

3. Are you still drinking your creation the “Artemis” ?

4. What one thing eats up the most time for you?

5. Was there anything that used to scare you as a kid?

6. Favorite place to just think?

7. What’s the one thing you always asked your parents or Santa every year?

8. You have seen auroras on earth, the blackness of space, but what one picture still is vivid in your memory.

The Back Half:

Space is dangerous, you have to respect it. What the one thing in Space Shuttle Colombia that was special to you and what emotions went through you when you heard it was lost?

As you said goodbye to your family before each mission how did your emotions change from mission 1 to mission 3?

How did your time in space inspire you to help others?

One Big Question:

There is a talk of a new space race, America vs China. What concerns do you have because of it?

The Wrap:

She loves drinking an Artimis, relaxing on the couch with her cat and “Space: The Longest Goodbye”. Dr. Cady Coleman thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today.

And that my friends is a Beyond the Mic Short Cut.

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