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This Cape Cod astronaut spoke to us from outer space

Loral O'Hara speaking with CAI's Patrick Flanary.
NASA
Loral O'Hara speaking with CAI's Patrick Flanary.

Loral O'Hara has been conducting research aboard the International Space Station for NASA since September.

"Everything is different in microgravity," she says. "Things float off pretty quickly."

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION—Before NASA selected her as an astronaut candidate seven years ago, Loral O'Hara worked as a research engineer in Woods Hole.

O'Hara spent eight years at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where she worked on the operation of underwater vehicles.

In 2019 she completed two years of astronaut training, and later served a year as NASA's director of operations in Russia. Since September, O'Hara has been researching how the space environment affects the human body.

"I still have a moment every day looking at Earth when I see something insanely beautiful," O'Hara told Morning Edition host Patrick Flanary. "I'm just in awe."

She expects to return to Earth in April.

"It's hard to believe that our mission is coming to a close," O'Hara said. "I still feel like there are so many things to do and see. I'd be delighted to come back."

Click LISTEN above for the full interview.

See the full video of the interview HERE.

Patrick Flanary is a dad, journalist, and host of Morning Edition.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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