What is it like to read your Bible and pray on the International Space Station (ISS)?

Implied in the question is the notion that Bible reading and prayer are somehow enhanced given the vantage point. There certainly is an acute awareness and appreciation of God’s creative and providential work given the literal “worldview,” and that awareness does energize reading and prayer here. At the same time, it takes much more effort and progress is slower. Reading and prayer is a work of the mind on objective truth and cognitive thinking with concentration I find harder here, likely due to environmental factors such as a higher CO2 level. For most fruitful and meaningful Bible reading and times of prayer, nothing beats the quiet place of being at home.

 

What is the most accurate movie set in space?

I’m not really much of a movie buff but, in my limited viewing experience, would place the movie Apollo 13 at the top for accuracy. First it was a true story, and participants in the real mission were consulted in its making. Additionally, those responsible for its production seemed to be motivated to tell the story accurately. The special effects applied did a great job of realistically portraying the flight environment without exaggerated artistic license. Finally, it is a terrific heroic story to tell and to know. It gives the viewer a great perspective on real people, motivations, and risks in space flight and portrays well the heroic efforts and dedication of the flight crew and the ground team in the work it took to save the crew and return them safely to Earth.

 

What’s your favorite snack in space?

Like many of us experience on the ground, our favorite at any given time often is something that is scarce. Given that, my favorite snack here is in the category of fresh fruits and vegetables. They are available only when certain supply ships arrive such as a SpaceX Dragon or a Russian Progress and the produce does not last very long so must be consumed in a few days. The last things packed before launch, we have enjoyed fresh oranges, apples, onions, and tomatoes. Of those, perhaps my favorite has been vine ripened juicy tomatoes.