Spaceflight Now





Pope Benedict XVI calls the space shuttle-station crew
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: May 21, 2011


Bookmark and Share

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL--Pope Benedict XVI called the combined crews of the shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station Saturday, wishing commander Mark Kelly's gravely wounded wife, Gabrielle Giffords, a steady recovery and asking station flight engineer Paolo Nespoli how he endured news of his mother's death in the isolation of space.


Credit: NASA TV
 
Speaking from a desk at the Vatican, the pope focused on the role of science and technology in solving problems on Earth and inspiring young people.

"From the space station, you have a very different view of the Earth, you fly over different continents and nations several times a day," he said, reading prepared remarks. "I think it must be obvious to you how we all live together on one Earth and how absurd it is that we fight and kill each (other).

"I know that Mark Kelly's wife was a victim of a serious attack and I hope her health continues to improve. When you're contemplating the Earth from up there, do you ever wonder about the way nations and people live together down here, about how science can contribute to the cause of peace?"

"Thank you for the kind words, your holiness, and thank you for mentioning my wife, Gabby," Kelly replied. "It's a very good question. We fly over most of the world and you don't see borders, but at the same time we realize that people fight with each other and there's a lot of violence in this world and it's really an unfortunate thing."

Kelly said people frequently fight over resources, pointing out that "the science and technology that we put into the space station to develop a solar power capability gives us pretty much an unlimited amount of energy. And if those technologies could be adapted more on Earth, we could possibly reduce some of that violence."

Pope Benedict asked the astronauts about their impression of the environment from the vantage point of space, wondering if "you see signs of phenomena to which we need to be more attentive?"

"It really is an extraordinary vantage point we have up here," station flight engineer Ronald Garan said. "On the one hand, we can see how indescribably beautiful the planet we have been given is. But on the other hand, we can really clearly see how fragile it is. The atmosphere when viewed from space is paper thin. And to think that this paper thin layer is all that separates every living thing from the vacuum of space is really a sobering thought."

The pope spoke in Italian to station flight engineer Paolo Nespoli, who's mother died in Italy May 2.

"Dear Paolo. I know that a few days ago your mom left you and in a few days you will come back home and you will not find her waiting for you," the pope said in translated remarks. "We're all close to you. Me too, I have prayed for her. How have you been living through this time of pain on the International Space Station? Do you feel isolated and alone? Or do you feel united amongst ourselves in a community that follows you with attention and affection?"

"Holy father, I felt your prayers and everyone's prayers arriving up here," Nespoli replied. "My colleagues on board the station were very close to me at this important time for me, a very intense moment, as well as my brothers and sisters, my uncles, my aunts, my relatives were close to my mom in her last moments. I'm very grateful for this. I felt very far, but also very close. And the thought of feeling all of you near me at this time has been a great relief. I also want to thank the Italian and American space agencies that had given me the opportunity so that I was able to speak with her in her last moments."

Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: FRIDAY NIGHT FLIGHT DIRECTOR UPDATE PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER INSTALLS NEW ANTENNA PLAY
VIDEO: WORKING WITH AMMONIA JUMPER LINE PLAY
VIDEO: SCIENCE EXPERIMENT RETRIEVED PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALK NO. 1 BEGINS PLAY
VIDEO: AMAZING VIEWS INSIDE SOYUZ CAPSULE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 1 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHT DIRECTOR UPDATE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEWS WITH NPR, AP, REUTERS, FOX NEWS PLAY
VIDEO: MILES O'BRIEN MODERATES CREW INTERVIEW PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW CONGRATULATED BY AMS' LEADER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: AMS HANDED FROM SHUTTLE ARM TO STATION ARM PLAY
VIDEO: SPECTROMETER UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY NIGHT FLIGHT DIRECTOR UPDATE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED DESCRIPTION OF AMS INSTALLATION PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER ANIMATION PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 3 INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: PALLET HANDED FROM SHUTTLE ARM TO STATION ARM PLAY
VIDEO: SPARE PARTS CARRIER UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: A LOOK AT SPARE PARTS RIDING ON PALLET PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF ELC NO. 3 INSTALL PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION BROUGHT TO FIRM CONNECTION PLAY
VIDEO: DOCKING OF SHUTTLE TO STATION AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ARCS OUT IN FRONT OF SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR PERFORMS THE 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE DOCKING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GUIDED TOUR OF SHUTTLE'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' FLIGHT DAY 2 HOME MOVIES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: INSPECTION BOOM UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 2 PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' FLIGHT DAY 1 HOME MOVIES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY

VIDEO: THE FULL STS-134 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' VIEW OF JETTISONED FUEL TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: GIFFORDS' STAFF BRIEF REPORTERS PLAY

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AFB PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: BEAUTY SHOTS OF ENDEAVOUR ON THE PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE RETRACTED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF SUNDAY'S GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ANOTHER TOWER TIME-LAPSE FROM PAD CAMERA PLAY

VIDEO: LOOK BACK AT ENDEAVOUR'S LAUNCH DELAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RECAP OF HEATER PROBLEM AND THE FIX PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR SECOND COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 16 PLAY
VIDEO: CHECKING ENDEAVOUR'S WIRING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: OLD ALCA-2 BOX OPENED UP FOR FORENSICS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FAILED ALCA-2 BOX REMOVED FROM ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WORKING ON OLD AND NEW SWITCHBOXES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH OF ENDEAVOUR DELAYED FURTHER PLAY

VIDEO: PRESIDENT OBAMA ARRIVES AT THE CAPE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TOUR OF ATLANTIS AND ASTRONAUT MEETING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FIRST FAMILY DEPARTS AFTER VISIT PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-SCRUB NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH DIRECTOR EXPLAINS SCRUB CALL PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SCRUB DECLARED FOR APU NO. 1 HEATER GLITCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE QUARTERS BEFORE SCRUB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW GETS SUITED UP FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF PAD GANTRY RETRACTING PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR'S PRE-FLIGHT CAMPAIGN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PAYLOADS' PRE-FLIGHT CAMPAIGN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PREPARING ENDEAVOUR FUEL TANK FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: COUNTDOWN UPDATE AND WEATHER BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: COUNTDOWN PREVIEW BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: GUIDED TOUR OF SPACE STATION PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GET TO KNOW ENDEAVOUR'S ASTRONAUTS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH MARK KELLY PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH GREG JOHNSON PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH MIKE FINCKE PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH ROBERTO VITTORI PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH DREW FEUSTEL PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH GREG CHAMITOFF PLAY

VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR CLEARED FOR APRIL 29 LAUNCH PLAY

VIDEO: EVACUATION DRESS REHEARSAL PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SUITING UP FOR PRACTICE COUNT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE INSPECTED FOR STORM DAMAGE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW TEST-DRIVES PAD ESCAPE VEHICLE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUT CHAT AT THE PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES FOR PRACTICE COUNT PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PAYLOADS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CANISTER ROTATED UPRIGHT FOR PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PALLET OF SPARE PARTS INTO CANISTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: AMS PAYLOAD PUT INTO TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-134 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS PLAY
VIDEO: IN-DEPTH WITH ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY

VIDEO: SUN RISES OVER THE LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR ARRIVES ATOP PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ROLLOUT FROM VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: HOISTING ENDEAVOUR TO TANK AND SRBS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ORBITER GOES VERTICAL PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR LEAVES PROCESSING HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PAYLOAD MEDIA DAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PAYLOAD REMOVED FROM C-5 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: AMS ARRIVES FROM EUROPE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 3 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: HIGH-PRESSURE OXYGEN GAS TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PUTTING STATION ANTENNA ON CARRIER PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: TANK UNLOADED TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE EXTERNAL FUEL TANK ARRIVES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BOOSTER SEGMENT MOVED TO VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SRB CEREMONY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR FITTED WITH MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ORBITER TOWED OFF RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF

MORE: STS-134 VIDEO ARCHIVE
HDTV: HIGH-DEFINITION COVERAGE
SUBSCRIBE NOW



MISSION STATUS CENTER