Dubai: Love for planet Earth bloomed in outer space for Nasa astronauts Barry E. ‘Butch' Wilmore and Dr Robert L. Satcher Jr, who are currently visiting Dubai — the first official visit of Nasa to the Middle East.
They said it takes a sight from outside to appreciate Earth's beauty and understand how precious its resources are as no pictures and videos do justice on that count.
The two astronauts are among the elite league of about 500 earthlings who have gone to space.
Captain Wilmore and Dr Satcher who returned from the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station in December, visited Dubai Modern High School and GEMS World Academy that boasts of the only-school-based planetarium in the region, yesterday.
They will visit six GEMS schools during their four-day trip to Dubai.
"The strips of colours you see of the sunset and sunrise; the blue patches of the Pacific — I cannot describe it in words. It is just brilliant when you see the Earth from outside. Pictures cannot do justice to its beauty. And when you realise there is unrest and violence, we understand that all it takes is to put our differences aside and work together. That is what we do in the space station," said Captain Wilmore addressing a press conference at the GEMS World Academy.
Asked what would be the one thing he wanted to change on the Earth when he saw it from space, Dr Satrcher said he wanted to figure out how to take care of its resources more effectively. "Because when we see the Earth from space, we realise that what one person does on one side of the planet does affect the other side of the planet," he said adding that Palm Islands, Dubai's iconic real state project was a distinct sight from the space.
The Nasa astronauts had spent 11 days in space as part of the crew that delivered two express Logistics Carriers to the International Space Station, about 13,607kg of replacement parts.
As pupils from the schools got a chance to interact with the astronauts, the experience was no less enchanting than a space walk for them.
Questions ranging from what it takes to be an astronaut to what the purpose of spending millions of dollars in space technology was rained down on the duo at the packed auditorium at Modern High School.
