NASA Astronaut Anne McClain has spent 204 days in orbit, sharing tight quarters with other astronauts. In a recent post, she shared some tips for living in confined spaces—good advice right now as so many of us are holed up at home because of COVID-19.
In a post for NASA, “An Astronaut’s Tips For Living in Space – Or Anywhere” (adapted from a Twitter thread), McClain writes, “One thing astronauts have to be good at: living in confined spaces for long periods of time. Here are some tips for all who find yourself in a similar scenario.” She shares what NASA calls “expeditionary behavior skills,” the human behaviors that “create a healthy culture for living and working remotely in small groups.” She explains the five key skills—Communication, Leadership/Followership, Self-Care, Team Care, and Group Living—and suggests ways to practice them. Go have a read (with your kids, if they’re old enough) and see if you can put these ideas to work in your own home.
McClain is also a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a senior Army aviator, with more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 different aircraft and more than 800 combat hours on 216 combat missions. She has a graduate degrees in aerospace engineering and international relations and was a member of the USA Rugby Women’s National Team, among her many accomplishments. Most recently, she served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) for Expedition 58 and 59. If that’s not enough to impress you, she’s also in contention to be the first woman on the moon, reported Stars and Stripes last fall.
While she was in orbit on the ISS, McClain participated in the Story Time from Space program of the Global Space Education Foundation. Watch her read Astronaut Annie, by Suzanne Slade, and Ada Lace, Take Me to Your Leader, by Emily Calandrelli with Tamson Weston, all while floating in zero-g.
McClain was also caught up in a contentious child custody battle with her ex-wife last year; while no further details of the case have been made public, the fact that NASA is promoting her work makes me think that the allegations her ex brought before the NASA Inspector General have likely been dismissed.
Want more astronaut advice on how to cope in a small space? Watch former astronaut Peggy Whitson, who holds the U.S. record for time in space, share her tips with CBS This Morning. And check out the great kids’ activities in “10+ Things to Do with NASA at Home.”