I just finished reading Astronaut Ron Garan’s second book “Floating in Darkness: A Journey Of Evolution”. Contrary to the word “darkness” in the title, this book brings so much to light. I have gotten to know quite a few astronauts over the years – most of them just professionally. I have come to know a dozen or so much better and a few even more so. Every one of them has a different story as to how they came to be an astronaut. To some it was a calling. Others saw it as a logical career move. Some of them got in easily on their first try while others waited a decade or more. Some followed a straight path. Others took the long way around. I am not sure that I have ever met an astronaut who disliked their trips into space. I am sure there are a few. Most were clearly affected by the experience – some profoundly so.

Book Review: The Orbital Perspective, SpaceRef “Ron Garan used to be an astronaut. Now he helps people in remote African communities obtain fresh drinking water. Yet he still has his head back amongst the stars. How he came to this point is the subject of his book “The Orbital Perspective”. While many people who have spent time in space have come back with altered perceptions and equipped with a new […]

Time Lapse From Space – Literally. The Journey Home. from Fragile Oasis on Vimeo. Ron Garan: “Saying goodbye to our friends and our home on the International Space Station was bittersweet after nearly six months in space. Although Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Samokutyaev and I were eager to return to our beautiful Earth, we wanted to savor our last moments as we took a couple of laps around our Fragile Oasis […]

Keith’s 4 Oct note: Astronaut Ron Garan recently returned to Earth. While he was on the ISS he was a rather active, creative, and effective communicator. However, the vast majority of what he sent back to Earth did not appear on a NASA.gov website. Instead, it appeared on his own effort – the officially semi-official “Fragile Oasis“. Beth Beck from HEOMD runs this site. The site is operated independent of […]

Photo: Ron Garan’s Last Day in Space @ASTRO_RON: “How I spent my last day in space. That’s me in the cupola of the International Space Station off the coast of Australia taking my last of over 25,000 pics that I still want to share w/ everyone.” Keith’s note: I am confused. Astronaut Ron Garan flies to the International Space Station and sends a non-stop stream of personal – and cool […]