Hi, I'm astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria (3 Space Shuttle missions and one ISS mission) and the President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Ask me anything!

What's scarier? Goin' up or comin' down?

Depends. On the Space Shuttle, ascent was definitely scarier than entry. On the Soyuz, entry was pretty sporty; I'd call it a draw!

What is the biggest thing holding space exploration back and how do we make it more feasible?

Lack of consistent government funding is a big problem. I think there is widespread public support, but that doesn't seem to translate to support in Congress. A sustained funding profile supporting a coherent exploration strategy is needed.

Hi everyone! It's a little early, but I'm going to jump in. This is my first time on Reddit; be nice!

Which animal do you think would look the most hilarious in 0 gravity?

A cat. But I'd make sure it's declawed before watching in person.

During EVA, does NASA give you time to just take in the veiw?

Not enough. You're pretty focused on getting the job done. But every once in awhile you need to take a peek; the view is unbelievable.

have you seen the new movie gravity? if so what did you think of it?

I haven't seen it yet. The trailer looks a little over the top, but some (including my staff) say it's a must-see!

What enticed you away from NASA, and to CSF?

I wanted to be part of what I think is the key to the future of human spaceflight.

How big of a concern is orbital debris on a typical mission and how do you deal with it?

It's not trivial. Folks on the ground keep track of the threats. If it's serious we are notified a couple of days before the "conjunction" (official NASA term). If it doesn't go away (tracking accuracy improves over time), we execute a maneuver to avoid. I think in my seven months aboard ISS that happened twice.

Did you have a "holy shit" I'm in space moment and when did it first happen? Also, as an engineering student in the biomedical and chemical engineering fields how do you recommend someone get into switching fields into aerospace or some similar field of engineering considering I'm already a 4th year?

I think "holy shit" might be a direct quote of me right after MECO (Main Engine Cut Off) on my first launch (and the other three, for that matter).

What do you see as the CSF's public role? In public view it doesn't seem to do anything other than put out press releases when its members are in the news.

Ouch.

Awesome, hey will you settle an argument? Okay, we've got a sphere of water suspended in space. Now, if we put a fish in the sphere would it disperse the water everywhere or could the fish swim around in it?

You'd have to ask some of my wicked smart colleagues. My guess is that the fish could swim just fine, but I think the bigger the sphere the better for the fish.

Who would you rather have with you in space, George Clooney or Sandra Bullock?

Is this an IQ test?

What do you think will be the next big step in the propulsion of spacecraft?

I wish I could predict. I think we do need to find a viable alternative to traditional chemical propulsion. Solar-electric and nuclear seem like potential options.

With the ISS operational until 2020 (or possibly 2028) how feasible is it for commercial space companies to use resupply of the ISS as a business model when they'll still be in the testing phase for a few more years?

Great question. The ISS resupply part of the equation is pretty clear - two companies are already providing cargo to ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract. The business that deals with taking crew to and from ISS is indeed still in the testing phase. NASA is interested in extending ISS to 2028; that's already a lot more flights than if it ended in 2020. With more flights the fixed costs are spread out, lowering the per-launch cost and increasing profit margins. But the real key will be to have customers other than NASA - private companies, sovereign nations or even space tourists.

Hey thanks for doing this AMA! How would you describe the feeling of being launched into space? Does it captivate you every time?

It's a rush. Imagine the acceleration of a super fast car, but it lasts over 8 minutes. Captivating through at least four launches!

How much time on the ISS is spent working as opposed to down time? What do you do on that down time?

Also, what degrees would fit best to what you do up there?

We work five and a half days a week, usually about 9-10 hours a day. But we are also obliged to exercise on "off" days, so there isn't a whole lot of spare time. We usually spend it keeping in touch with family and friends, and looking out the window.

Hey Michael, thanks for doing this. My question is, did you ever have a moment where you truly feared for your life. And if so, what's the story?

Not really; I've been more scared in an airplane than on a space flight.

Can you recount the instance(s) for us? Anything in specific?

None that I'd care to share. But flying an airplane is a lot more dynamic than being in space. If ascent takes about 8.5 minutes, and entry takes maybe 30, I've spent about 2.5 hours in really dynamic spaceflight, compared to about 5500 piloting airplanes.

Thank you for doing this AMA, what is your favorite part of a space mission?

It's all good (well, most of it). The launch is pretty exciting. Floating magic. The view is spectacular! But EVA is probably my favorite.

I'm guessing that you've experienced some pretty dark skies with good seeing on earth. Could you contrast those conditions with those you experience looking away from the earth on the ISS? I imagine it must be quite spectacular to bypass the atmosphere by going up to low earth orbit.

True, but it's almost impossible to get rid of light sources on the inside of ISS. Best view of the stars is during a night pass, no moon, while EVA.

What would you say is a good foundation for anyone looking to start a career in the Aerospace industry or Space Intelligence?

STEM subjects!

How is sleeping in zero gravity? I've seen what you have to be strapped into, but my question is more of how comfortable it is. And also, what is the hardest thing to adjust to when you are up there and when you first get back. Thanks again for doing this AMA!

It's pretty easy to fall asleep at the end of a long day, but I found I would wake up after a few hours and have trouble falling back asleep. I missed that gratifying feeling of lying down on a real bed. The hardest thing to get used to upon return is how damn heavy everything seems!

What film do you think most accurately captures what it's like to be in space? Thanks for doing this AMA!

From those I've seen (I'm not really a sci-fi buff) I'd say Apollo 13.

I've heard it said that space smells like "seared steak." Is there any truth to this or is it a load of malarkey?

Never heard that one. I agree with the commonly used description of "burned metal."

How much training is required in order to be qualified to go to the ISS?

The training template is 2.5 years from the start of mission-specific training until launch. That's for someone who's already been through astronaut candidate training (another couple of years). It could be done more efficiently, but there's a lot of travel (and learning Russian, for now).

If I wanted to be an astronaut, what would I have to study in college, and what else would I have to do to have a remote chance at becoming one?

I used to say that you'd have to study STEM subjects. With the advent of commercial suborbital flights, you just have to have a few (thousand) extra dollars, regardless of what (or if) you studied. I hope that in a few years the price will come down even lower.

Hi Michael!

What are your opinions about life in outer space?

Common occurrence?

Hard to know. While the universe is so immense that it seems unlikely that there isn't intelligent life out there, it's also so immense that it IS unlikely we'd ever run into it.

Greetings! When will be the first official commercial suborbital flight and first official commercial manned orbital flight?

Sir Richard says February 2014. I think the XCOR guys are in the same ballpark. As for orbital - that depends a lot on NASA funding. They're saying 2017; companies say they could go earlier.

As a space superfan who is concerned about the downward spiral of funding for space research and exploration by our government I would like to know if you think we should continue to work toward trying to secure funding for government agencies like NASA or all just cut bait and embrace the private sector as our only real hope?

A mix. NASA is still the preeminent space agency in the world and can do incredible things. But the commercial sector is proving that it has the ability to do some pretty cutting edge things, and can do them relatively inexpensively. Count on NASA for the far-off, really challenging stuff where there's not business model, and let commercial do the rest.

Hi Michael, which regions of the world do you see making the biggest advances over the next two decades in terms of manned space flight technologies?

1. The U.S.; 2. Europe

1. When did you decide you wanted to be an astronaut 1.a. When did you start focusing on it as a goal?

2. Best and worst part of being an astronaut?

I played astronaut as a kid, but never really thought seriously about it until age 25 - I was a pilot in the Navy interested in becoming a test pilot. Turns out a lot of early astronauts had gone through test pilot training and that's what made it seem possible. Best - spacewalking Worst - pooping in zero g

If you were to have a giant dinner party at your house, I'm talking catered five course dinner, live band, dancing, the works! All your friends will be there, your family will be there, maybe even some big wigs from the space industry...would you planet?

Nice.

Thanks for taking the time to make this AMA!

How did you cope with gravity after being 215 days in 0 g? Honestly do any of the excercises done really help avoid the muscle/bone loss suffered?

Also, what's next on the agenda for the Commercial Spaceflight federation?

Exercise is definitely key to recovering quickly post-flight. The ISS now has a new weight machine - Advanced Resistive Exercise Device - that has helped crew members return with near zero Bone Mass Density loss after five plus months on orbit.

How far away do you think affordable commercial spaceflight is? Do you think it could replace air travel as we know it today?

Depends on your definition of "affordable." It's already affordable for some (seven paid tens of millions to spend a week aboard ISS). But for us normal folk, I really think it could happen within a decade or two. It will never replace air travel, but could well complement it for transcontinental flight.

How would you describe looking at Earth from space? Do you identify with the phenomenon "The Overview Effect"?

I think the so-called Overview Effect is directly tied to seeing the Earth from space. Kinda recages your gyro . . . .

Did you throw up your first time in zero Gs? If so whats thats like?

No, but definitely felt a little queasy for awhile. Even in the worse cases I've seen it's pretty much resolved after a day or so.

If a person wanted to go into space for a day (lets say obit the earth), what skills/training would they need to know before go into space?

As a spaceflight participant (non crew member) for one orbit (about 90 minutes), just enjoy the ride!

How would your colleges go about retrieving you incase you actually became detached in space and started drifting away?

Is there an emergency shuttle with a robot arm that pulls you back in or are you on your own?

We are always tethered to the ISS by a stranded metal cable; pretty unlikely that would break. But we do practice rescuing each other if one should become incapacitated. We do that training in a big swimming pool - the Neutral Buoyancy Lab - and it's pretty challenging. But everyone has to demonstrate the ability to drag an incapacitated colleague back into the airlock before they're considered qualified for EVA.

Hi, You mentioned Apollo 13, have you seen the HBO Mini series "From Earth To The Moon"? I really think you would enjoy it as it is one of the best space related things I have seen.

On to a question, what did it feel like when you first experienced real '0G' in space? Was it different to training or were you already used to it?

Thanks.

Zero g is zero g; same in a parabolic flight as in orbit. The difference is - it never ends!

Did you ever see anything during your missions that could have been of extraterrestrial origin? If not, how do you explain Buzz Aldrin's and several other astronauts' claims that there are ET visitors around our earth and moon? Please be honest with your reply. If you cannot talk about this for whatever reasons, just say so.

Thank you.

In complete honesty - no; nothing.

Have you seen Gravity? Thoughts?

Based on the number of questions about this movie, I'm going to stop answering questions and go see it!

Thanks everyone; sorry if I wasn't able to answer your questions.

Cheers,

L-A