Public Affairs Officer Kelly Humphries interviews NASA astronaut Doug Hurley about handling things home on Earth while his wife, Karen Nyberg, is living in space as an Expedition 36/37 flight engineer. Hurley and their son Jack stay in touch with Karen using modern communication tools such as Skype and an iPad.
Hurley said it is easier to be separated when you’re the spouse going on a mission instead of the one staying home. As an astronaut, periods of separation from your family can be frequent and of varying durations. For instance, preparing for a mission can require weeks of training away from home in other parts of the world that prepare you for the space mission.
In the meantime, while Karen spent her 100th day aboard the station on Sept. 5 her 4-year-old son Jack is growing. She will return home in November with her Expedition 36/37 crewmates having completed a 5-1/2 month mission on the International Space Station.
Conversations With Astronaut Karen Nyberg on Family:
