Polish Astronaut Speaks Live With Tusk From Space

Uznański-Wiśniewski explained that what it felt like to look back at Earth from space was the most incredible moment of his life so far. "I'm delighted with the interest in the Polish mission. What does it feel like to live in microgravity? And that's an amazing feeling," he said. "But the best and most amazing feeling was to see Earth from above again.

The Tusk prime minister reacted with praise and approval. "Here, we all eagerly await your return to Earth and to Poland. Some of us are ever so envious of your weightless condition. Entire Poland believes that this has opened our windows onto outer space and to a huge ambition for the future."

The astronaut underscored the significance of the scientific research being conducted on the ISS, adding: "Here are the experiments that will be extremely important in building our technological future… I wish we could once build such laboratories in Poland."

Captivating Our Kids with Space Literacy
It was UznaÅ„ski-WiÅ›niewski's second live session of the day, after speaking with 300 school children at the EC1 Art and Science Centre in Łódź. During the CFES event, he was answering questions and conducting science experiments that the students were prepared for.

When asked about what sleeping in space is like, he said, "In the beginning, sleeping was difficult — you don't touch anything, you just float. But now I'm sleeping pretty well." He also described recycling techniques on board, adding with amusement, "We get back a lot of water. As astronauts like to put it: Based on what you drank today, this is tomorrow's coffee."

Three live experiments, carried out from the ISS, formed the session: gyroscopic motion in zero gravity, the nature of water in space and the measurement of mass with spring oscillation. The activities were designed to excite students and show them how space science is used day to day.

It's a two-week mission for Uznański-Wiśniewski aboard the ISS, and then he'll return to his home planet, leaving a strong example of Polish achievement up in space.