In the Know

A Toddler Learns the Answers to Some Important Questions Directly From the Source

August 23, 2007

 

John Olmsted’s grandson had important questions for Tracy Caldwell. Here is the email he sent to the Cal State Fullerton alumna — and her answer — while she was in space.

Dear Tracy,

This is Dylan. Please, tell me why the cargo doors are opened all the time? Why doesn't the cargo fall out?

Can the shuttle do a double flip? How close is the sun to the space station?
What flavor was your cake at your birthday?
We've been watching the NASA TV about the space shuttle and it looks scary.

Thank you. Good-by.

Dylan Olmsted (age 4 1/2)
PS Dictated to his grandparents, 8/17/07

Well, Dylan, these are ponderous questions.

Let me start with the cargo (or "Payload Bay") doors - we keep them open all the time so we can keep our space ship cool. Kind of like when you get bundled up for a cold day and then unzip your coat when you come inside where it's warm. We also keep them open so we can connect to the space station, plus we take stuff out of the bay and need the doors open then. Stuff doesn't fall out because we have it tied down really, really good. We give everything a good shake on the way up here, just to make sure.

Of course the shuttle can do a double flip. Which way would you like Endeavour to go? We can pitch, yaw, or roll … however many times you want until you tell us to stop. On the space station, we are as close to the sun as you are, minus 210 miles (which isn't a whole lot considering how far, far away the sun is).

My birthday cake was brownie flavor with walnuts on top...I only had one candle, though, so don't worry about how all of them fit.

And, lastly, there is not a single thing scary about the space shuttle. Endeavour is her name and she is a beautiful ship. She protects us, she keeps us comfortable, she's just like a house and more. We're trying to take as good of care of her as she does of us...and she's doing a much better job. Dylan, these are very good questions...some of the best ones I've had so far.

Tracy