Science Friday ‘Orbital’ Imagines The Inner Lives Of Astronauts On The ISS
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Jan 21, 2025 Samantha Harvey, an acclaimed author known for her Booker Prize-winning novel Orbital, chats with former NASA astronaut Katie Coleman. They explore the profound impact of living on the ISS, including the emotional toll of isolation and viewing 16 sunrises a day. Harvey discusses her inspiration for writing during lockdown, while Coleman shares the challenges of articulating the unique experience of space. They also reflect on the legacy of the ISS and how literature can bridge the gap between science and the human experience in space exploration.
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From Earth to Space
- Samantha Harvey initially wanted to write a pastoral novel about Earth.
- She was inspired by images of Earth from space, leading her to set her novel, Orbital, on the ISS.
The Astronaut Experience
- Harvey's novel explores the challenge of expressing the astronaut experience, where the mundane seems too trivial and the profound too overwhelming.
- Astronaut Cady Coleman validates this difficulty, noting that each astronaut's experience is unique.
Validating the Imagination
- Coleman points out specific details in Orbital that resonated with her own experience.
- Examples include descriptions of watching typhoons from space and the disregard for toilet rules.
