Astronauts have revealed why returning to Earth is the ‘most terrifying’ part of their whole journey.
Maybe people look to the stars and dream of a career in space, but very few are actually lucky enough to get the chance.
Blasting off beyond our atmosphere isn’t for the faint-hearted and now astronauts have shared their thoughts on what the worst part of space travel is.
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While you might think that take off is one of the scariest parts of being an astronaut, they say otherwise.
In fact, astronauts who have been to space say that it’s the return back down to Earth that is the ‘most terrifying’.
Many have also said that it’s the ‘most dangerous thing’ they do during their mission.
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A group of astronauts spoke out during the National Geographic documentary titled One Strange Rock.
There, they shared their experiences of landing back home after a mission in space.
One said: “During re-entry, the window seat is… interesting.”
They went on to reveal that if you peer out of the window during the re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, then you’ll be treated to a sight of ‘orange and purple flames of 3,000 degrees’, which might not be the most comforting sight when hurtling towards the ground.
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They went on to say: “That’s pretty freaking scary.”
Another astronaut added: “Flying the Russian Soyuz is a little bit, like, maybe, flying a meteorite home.”
What happens during re-entry from space?
As the spacecraft plummets down from orbit, it reaches speeds of 17,500 mph.
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The spacecraft has the same air-pressure and composition as Earth at sea level, so the astronauts are unaffected by the extreme change in their environment.
However, as they re-enter, the vessel experiences a lot of friction, which is due to the air molecules in the atmosphere.
This is what causes the vehicle to heat up and give off a bright glow, which appears similar to a meteor.
Readjusting to the Earth’s gravity can be difficult and astronauts can experience issues standing, stabilizing their gaze, walking, and turning.
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Some astronauts who have returned from space have described a phenomenon they’ve experienced, now referred to as ‘the overview effect’.
This is a cognitive shift that some astronauts report to have experienced while viewing Earth from space.
It’s said to cause an overwhelming appreciation and connection to other people and to Earth as a whole and can change the observer’s own value system.
It’s an effect that is known to make worldly worries seem insignificant and displays Earth as one united planet.