EVA and Teamwork

Today was a re-entry day for me. My first full day back in New York after spending the weekend in "ShuttleLand." I spent most of the day glued to NASA TV watching the last Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) a.k.a. "spacewalk" to be supported by the space shuttle and her crew. As if the feats of working in microgravity to move, manipulate, install and remove various components on the ISS weren't enough, there was such an amazing display of teamwork. Today's activities made it so clear that these missions are not just about the astronauts in the crew, but thousands of people who make what they do possible.

The morning began with Ferguson and Satoshi getting Fossum and Garan suited up. On the ground in Houston, Mission Control Center was helping ensure that all procedures were followed to ensure the safety of the astronauts and the success of the EVA. CAPCOM was Bennett from STS133 Discovery. Good to have a seasoned spacewalker on hand as coach and interpreter. After their pre-breath activities in which they purge the nitrogen from their blood, the airlock was depressurized. Fossum experimented with whistling in the low pressure atmosphere, and it turns out, one cannot. There isn't enough air to create a sound. Once they cleared the airlock and stepped out into space, Waldheim took the role of EVA director, running checklists, and coordinating communication between Mission Control and Fossum and Garan. As if that went enough Magnus and Hurley operated the robotic arm to move astronauts and hardware into position between the shuttle's payload bay and locations on the ISS. Think of the communication required to successfully move someone on the end of a 50 foot arm into position and make tiny adjustments so the person on the end of the arm could

Somewhere in hour five of the six hour EVA, Garan remarked, "When you're hanging out here in no man's land, it's good to know there is a whole team behind you."

This level of teamwork and professionalism was nothing less than inspirational. It is truly a goal for all of us to achieve, doing our part to the best of our abilities and calling upon the support of our friends, colleagues, or team mates to successfully achieve whatever task or goal we have set out to complete. None of us can function alone. We are all part of a community. Garan asks, "What kind of world do you want?" I want a world where we can work together to achieve greatness.

Thank you to STS-135, ISS Expedition 28, Mission Control Center, and all the engineers, trainers and support personnel for demonstrating the true spirit of collaboration.