Woman space flier looks far, far ahead

Q: Of course, your status as a female spaceflight participant is what's putting you in the history books. But how do you view that? Is this a giant leap for women, or just a small step for space tourism and personal spaceflight?

A: As far as the significance of being a female in the whole history of spaceflight, I don't think it's that significant from a technological point of view. There have been many women astronauts and cosmonauts who have flown to space, and we know women experience basically the same thing that men experience. So from that aspect, I don't think it's any different.

But I think the importance comes when you talk about providing an inspiration for youth, and knowing that you can be from a country far, far away — someplace where there are not a lot of opportunities, and sometimes women may not have the same opportunities that men do — yet still you can nurture your dreams and realize those dreams if you are persistent and you put your mind to it and work hard at it.

So maybe from that angle, from the e-mails I've seen and the messages I've received, it is inspirational to women all over the world. And I look forward to seeing more young women and girls getting into the science area, and especially the space sciences.

Q: You mentioned that this trip was taking place earlier than you thought it would. Can you talk about what was running through your mind when you heard that Daisuke Enomoto wouldn't be able to go, and that you would be flying in his place?

A: I remember exactly: My training classes had just ended, and it was the end of the day for me, and someone from Space Adventures called me and told me that I'd been moved up to the primary position. I thought they were just joking with me and I couldn't believe it. After asking them several times and making sure they were serious, I was extremely excited, in disbelief. I remember I wanted to scream. It was a really, really, really exciting moment for me.

But at the same time, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about Daisuke. Through training together, we had become friends, and I knew that he was looking forward to this trip. It had been a dream for him as well. So I was extremely sad and I was worried about him, and I was trying to find out how he was. One of the first people I called, after my husband, was Daisuke, to make sure he was OK and see how he felt about it.

Fortunately, when I talked with him, he was looking forward to trying to take care of his medical concerns and planning to be on the next possible trip.

Q: It's not a life-threatening condition?

A: No, it was concerning enough that it made the trip not very safe for him. And people here are very strict about the slightest problem, because when you're in space, you don't have a doctor or a hospital next door, and you cannot just turn around and come back home. So they're very concerned that you have to be in absolutely 100 percent good health. His problem is treatable, and he has not been disqualified. His trip has just been postponed for now until he can receive proper treatment. Then he will be able to fly.

Q: Is there anything you can say about what you'll be taking up with you?

A: Sure. I'm taking a lot of little personal memorabilia. I have some prayers that are on little stones, and prayers on paper that I'm taking with me. I'm also taking a piece of SpaceShipOne, and some patches that have been flown on both of SpaceShipOne's X Prize flights, and a lot of pictures. Personal stuff from different people, and my wedding ring.

Q: What's the one thing you're looking forward to the most?

A: One of the most memorable moments for me would be — when you're in the Soyuz capsule, in the early stages of the flight, there's a nose thing that covers the window so you cannot see outside. And at a certain stage, that nose thing is jettisoned, and for the first time you can see outside. I look forward to the moment when I will actually be able to see outside the window, and see the Earth, and see how beautiful it is, like a glowing blue globe in the darkness of the sky. I think that will be the most special moment for me.

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