June 29, 2012
Going Home
When a frontier feels like home, it is no longer a frontier; it has become “civilization.” Those determined to wander must now pack their bags and move further into the cosmos.
Space Station is very much on the frontier. It is only my temporary home, and now it is time for me to venture back to my real home. For my generation, Earth is, and will remain, home. The technology for space travel is still in the process of development, and is not sufficiently mature to open this frontier to humanity. We are not prepared to call space our home—yet.
On Earth, the frontiers opened slowly. The technology of sailing was known and advanced for over a thousand years before the Earth was circumnavigated. Such bold acts require the technology, the will, and the audacity to explore. Sometimes you have one, but not the others.
I only hope that my small efforts here, perhaps adding one grain of sand to the beach of knowledge, will help enable a generation of people in the future to call space “home.”
Last Day in Space
Tomorrow we light our rocket,
we burn our engines and likewise,
burn a hole in the sky,
And thus fall to Earth.
How does one spend your last day in space?
Looking at Earth,
a blue jewel surrounded by inky blackness,
Pure Occipital Ecstasy.
Unconstrained by your girth,
you fly with vestigial wings.
The atmosphere on edge,
iridescent blue with no earthly parallel,
Electrifying Diaphanous Beauty.
Guarded by Sirens of Space,
singing saccharine songs,
beckoning you to crash on the atmos-reef
which tears you limb from limb
and scorching what remains
into cosmic croutons that sprinkle onto
the garden salad of Earth.
One last feast out the window,
A looking glass of Wonderland.
Offering both a portal to see your world,
and a translucent reflection to see yourself.
Contemplation;
what is your place in this world below,
how do you change it,
how does it change you.
We are wedded to this planet,
until mass extinction we do part.
Perhaps one planet is not enough.
You study your charts,
we prepare our spaceship,
and our minds.
We make ready our descent,
into these seemingly gentle arms.
The eager anticipation of hugging your wife,
your boys with grins followed by pouting faces,
both excited to see you but not understanding why you left.
Oh how does one spend your last day in Space.
What would you do?
Don Pettit
Node 2, Deck 5
ISS, LEO 51.603
Editor’s Note: Don and his crewmates André Kuipers and Oleg Kononenko are scheduled to undock their Soyuz spacecraft from the space station at 12:48 a.m. EDT Sunday, and land in Kazakhstan at 3:14 a.m.
Greetings from Poland!
I really enjoyed reading Your letters:)
All the best!
Comment by Charlie Librarian — June 29, 2012 @ 2:27 pm
[...] love this Letter to Earth by Don Pettit explaining his thoughts on the day before leaving. Frontier [...]
Pingback by Going Home | Letters to Earth Stellarwell — June 29, 2012 @ 3:33 pm
Well done, Don. I still remember sitting around with you in our small group of 20 ASCAN applicants at JSC in late 1995–you have made us all proud, and you have carried us with you… Safe return!
Comment by Doug Johnson — June 29, 2012 @ 8:33 pm
Last day? I would try and spend as much time in the Cupola as possible.
Enjoy your last day up there, Don, and have a safe landing on Sunday.
Comment by Alex Hunt — June 29, 2012 @ 9:23 pm
Well written, Don Pettit! Thank you for sharing the adventure.
Comment by Pedro Vazquez — June 30, 2012 @ 7:51 am
thank you for sharing your visual and internal journey to the ISS. the work you’ve done and art you leave behind for generations to learn from is both historical and groundbreaking. Here’s hoping for a safe journey home to a welcomed return…the movie mission to mars comes to mind;)!!
Comment by Queen C — June 30, 2012 @ 3:38 pm
Don, I’m sure you’ll be doing this anyway, but all I can think of is to suggest spending your day looking around you, at the earth and at everything else you can see in space, outside and inside of the IS, and wondering.
It’s Interesting and exciting that space is already becoming slightly more of a home to humankind than it has been in the past…
Thanks for your thoughts on your last day in space; very thought provoking.
Comment by Mari — June 30, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
Don,
I hope once you’re home you’ll have time to read all the comments people have made on your posts here, twitter, youtube, etc. Your mission was wildly inspirational both to me and many others. You have a special accessible quality about yourself that draws people to your words and endeavors. If you decide to retire from NASA, I do hope that you’ll continue to inspire us all with whatever you do next.
Thank you!
Comment by Rob Fendler — June 30, 2012 @ 9:03 pm
Beautiful poem – safe travels !
Comment by Air Enthusiast — July 1, 2012 @ 6:57 pm
Congratulations on a safe landing!
Fabulous work you’ve been doing, both in your day job and for your hobbies!
You certainly made the most of your stay on the ISS – you’ve given us all a feel for what it must be like as an astronaut and tried doing some of the things that all of would want to do if only we had the chance. Fantastic experiments like like getting some fellows to shine a laser at you, bursting balloons and experiment with zero-G cornstarch. Certainly going to miss your regular feeds from the ISS and hope you’re going to get the opportunity to go back.
Comment by Hugh Pryor — July 2, 2012 @ 5:18 pm
Your poems and writing have touched me this winter, spring and summer. The poetry of your cosmos is in the wine I am growing this year. Thank you for the beautiful gift of your words. Welcome back to Earth and family.
Comment by Barbara Shinn — July 3, 2012 @ 6:05 am
Welcome Home Don!
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure!
Comment by Shelby — July 3, 2012 @ 6:59 am
Dear Don,
I’ve just listened that you are safe and on the way to Houston. Good!
I would like to thank you for having shared your blog with all of us.
It has been an adventure!!!! I have appreciated a lot the way you are,… authentic!
When Soyuz touched down Earth, and I saw you, an your crew emerging from the capsule, I’ve been very touched.
Don, you felt very dizzy, however, I don’t know if I’m wrong, but I’ve had the feeling that for a few fractions of seconds your “influx” (strength) expressed :
“- I’m ok, I can move by myself”!
This image put me a smile on my face.
Don, I wish you “une bonne récupération”. Enjoy life all you can!!and all my best for your future.
I will never forget you and also your experience.
Take care of you et “Merci”!
A wink from Luna (“the Moon”) to you.
Comment by LUNA — July 3, 2012 @ 8:50 pm
Caro Don,
Benvenuti a Terra!
Ora è il momento di :
Ratatouille con menta e carasau
Zucchine ripiene di carne, un piatto delicato e appetitoso
Zucchine ripiene di ricotta
Zucchine gratinate con mozarella e salsa di Pomodoro
Quenelle di Melanzana e Zucchini
Patate Alla Brace con pesto di peperoni
Pomodori Farciti alle Spezie
La carbonella è accesa, le salse sono pronto, carni e pesci sono stati marinati. E il tempo è bello! Oggi facciamo il barbecue.
Comment by G GIRL — July 5, 2012 @ 8:24 am
[...] Don Pettit shows us the emotional side of returning to Earth through poetry. [...]
Pingback by Last Week’s Links — July 9, 2012 @ 11:07 pm
Having been with you from the beginning of this astronaut journey, I can’t believe that I just happened on your blog through searching blogs for a client.
Two trips to the space station may be behind you, but I know your journey continues and you may be up there again some day.
I look forward to following your continuing journey & always hope the Best to you. Hope for all the travels you want.
Comment by Michael Hice — October 29, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
Don, from your Ad Astra article it seems that you would like to see the lunar ice harvested for life-support and propellant. LunarCOTS.com proposes such an approach and I would like to invite you to consider signing it. Thanks.
Comment by Doug Plata — November 8, 2012 @ 11:18 pm
Hi Don,
Its a very good experience you shared with us, from the beginning of your journey to your going back home.All those blogs were simple and inspiring.
Comment by Sravya — November 22, 2012 @ 5:18 am
Hi Don,
Great posts and congratulations on your trips into space and your stays on the space station. Remember our days back in geology and mineralogy lab at OSU? It’s been a few years now. Your poem is just wonderful!
Happy Holidays. Gail (OSU Geology classes of 1978 BS and 1981 MS)
Comment by Gail H. — November 22, 2012 @ 11:55 pm
I follow the tweets of Cmdr Chris Hadfield, which is how I discovered ‘Letters to Earth’ & ‘Last Day In Space.’ Cmdr Hadfield asked in a tweet ‘what song would u record in space?’ He has a guitar in space! That gives me an answer to Don Pettit’s question “how does one spend your last day in space?” Well, u could spend it singing the song ‘Give a Little Bit’ which says “I’ll give a little bit of my life for u…so send a smile – we’re on our way back home…’cause I need to feel at home. Come along, too. Such a long ride. Come a long way. Sing it tonight.” I consider that astronauts who stay in the space station really /are/ giving a little bit of their time out of their own life for all of /us/ – spending it in the space station for the advancement of all mankind. For anyone who can’t remember that song off the top of their head or would like a refresher on it, this is the updated version – the remake by the Goo Goo Dolls (a version I love): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xYExLtJScI
Comment by Alma M. — February 9, 2013 @ 8:30 pm
Very excited when I read the notes people who are at a great distance, not only from home, but even from the home planet! Perhaps this is an incredible feeling, but you have great courage and strength of spirit, something to survive for a time in space. With great respect to you, Slader
Comment by Slader — April 8, 2013 @ 2:08 pm