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Astronaut finds good acoustics in outer space
Source: Agencies |
February 11, 2011, Friday
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AMERICAN astronaut Catherine Coleman has plenty of flutes to pick from aboard the International Space Station.
One is her own. Two belong to members of the Irish group, The Chieftains. And one belongs to the flutist with the Jethro Tull band.
"A pretty well-rounded spectrum, and I am having a great time up here with them," Coleman said.
On Wednesday, she played a couple tunes.
At the space station, Coleman is the only flutist among the six-member crew. And while she prefers creating music with other people, she puts flute music on in the background and plays along whenever she has spare time.
The penny whistle she took up belongs to the Chieftains' Paddy Moloney. There's also an old Irish flute from the Chieftains' Matt Molloy and a flute belonging to Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.
Coleman said part of her astronaut job is to share "how amazing it is up here and relate to different groups of people."
Coleman said it's different playing in weightlessness: She finds herself bumping into objects as she plays, floating, with her eyes closed.
Coleman, 50, who has a doctorate in polymer science and engineering, considers herself an amateur musician. She said it's been "pretty neat" creating her "own little world with music" in orbit. She hopes to team up with the Chieftains and Tull flutists for a space-to-ground concert before she returns to Earth in May.
Meanwhile, Space station commander Scott Kelly said his twin brother made the right decision in returning to shuttle training.
Astronaut Mark Kelly officially resumed training this week after taking a leave of nearly a month to care for his wounded wife, United States Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head. Mark Kelly will be in charge of the April flight of Endeavour.
One is her own. Two belong to members of the Irish group, The Chieftains. And one belongs to the flutist with the Jethro Tull band.
"A pretty well-rounded spectrum, and I am having a great time up here with them," Coleman said.
On Wednesday, she played a couple tunes.
At the space station, Coleman is the only flutist among the six-member crew. And while she prefers creating music with other people, she puts flute music on in the background and plays along whenever she has spare time.
The penny whistle she took up belongs to the Chieftains' Paddy Moloney. There's also an old Irish flute from the Chieftains' Matt Molloy and a flute belonging to Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.
Coleman said part of her astronaut job is to share "how amazing it is up here and relate to different groups of people."
Coleman said it's different playing in weightlessness: She finds herself bumping into objects as she plays, floating, with her eyes closed.
Coleman, 50, who has a doctorate in polymer science and engineering, considers herself an amateur musician. She said it's been "pretty neat" creating her "own little world with music" in orbit. She hopes to team up with the Chieftains and Tull flutists for a space-to-ground concert before she returns to Earth in May.
Meanwhile, Space station commander Scott Kelly said his twin brother made the right decision in returning to shuttle training.
Astronaut Mark Kelly officially resumed training this week after taking a leave of nearly a month to care for his wounded wife, United States Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head. Mark Kelly will be in charge of the April flight of Endeavour.
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