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Astronaut Awe-Struck (praises "Mother Earth"; uses tobacco in pagan pre-flight purification ritual)
AP ^ | 12/01/02 | AP

Posted on 12/01/2002 4:40:24 PM PST by gg188

Astronaut Was Awe-Struck During Spacewalk

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Dec. 1 — After completing three spacewalks in five days, astronaut John Herrington got a chance to relax Sunday and reflect on what it was like to hurtle around Earth at 17,500 mph outside his spaceship.

He couldn't help but think: "That's a loooong way down."

Herrington said he was somewhat intimidated by the fact that at any moment, he might find himself in uncontrollable motion and break away from the international space station, which would be "a bad thing."

"So I was always constantly on guard that I was maintaining the best control I could and that I had my proper tether protocol," he said. "But it was very awe-inspiring. It's a beautiful sight to look down and see the Earth from this altitude."

Herrington, the first American Indian in space and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, helped NASA get a stalled space station railcar moving again during his final spacewalk of the mission Saturday. In his two earlier outings, he helped install a $390 million station girder that was delivered by space shuttle Endeavour.

His one-week visit to the space station will end Monday afternoon, when Endeavour undocks and heads back to Earth for a Wednesday touchdown. The shuttle will return three former space station residents who have been in orbit since early June.

In an interview with Indian Country Today, Herrington said the first time he looked out Endeavour's windows after blasting off Nov. 23, he was amazed at how massive the Earth was and how minute the atmosphere. It made him realize "how insignificant we are in the great scheme of things."

"In the spiritual sense, it makes me appreciate how grand the grand scheme is of Mother Earth," he said.

Herrington said he carefully chose a variety of American Indian objects to take into space eagle feathers, wooden flutes, arrowheads, braided sweet grass "that I think represents a lot of the spiritual sense that we all feel."

He wanted to take tobacco, too, because of its purifying value, but NASA said no. The 44-year-old astronaut, a Navy pilot, said he recognized NASA's position on banning tobacco aboard spacecraft, but noted: "A lot of folks don't realize that we do use it in a spiritual sense."

In fact, just before launch, Herrington said he and a good friend "smudged" outside NASA crew quarters, waving smoke from burning leaves onto themselves for purification.

Herrington said flying in space and doing productive work up there probably is the most fulfilling thing he's ever done in his career.


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To: gg188
Just nice to know that he didn't take a puff of anything stronger before going up.
21 posted on 12/01/2002 5:45:33 PM PST by dr_who
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To: gg188
1. Imagine if a CHRISTIAN had wanted to puff a cigarette before taking off into space...Imagine a Christian speaking of Jesus as this guy speaks of "Mother Earth"...

How about the crew of Apollo 8 reading verses from the Bible Christmas Eve while in orbit around the moon? (Listening to that still gives me chills.)

How about Buzz Aldrin taking Communion immediately after landing on the moon?

In fact there are many examples of Christians expressing their faith while in space.

22 posted on 12/01/2002 5:46:35 PM PST by TomB
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To: gg188
"Smudged" my a**. This man utilized the Religious Freedom Act to smoke a little creeper before blasting-off on the greatest carnival-ride in the galaxy. I envy him.
23 posted on 12/01/2002 5:46:48 PM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: gg188
Good grief, any time a non-Christian wants to do anything you people explode. If non-Christians aren't going to get civil rights in your America, should we still have to pay taxes? Dhimmitude is dhimmitude, no matter who is enforcing it.
24 posted on 12/01/2002 5:51:15 PM PST by xm177e2
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To: gg188
How is your post any different from one complaining about a Christian astronaut holding a pre-flight prayer and carrying a lucky item that his daughter gave him?

Last time I checked, the US wasn't restricted to Christians only.
25 posted on 12/01/2002 5:56:35 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: gg188
Ever met any of the people who have flown the shuttle and gone to the station? I have. They are the best of the best. Check out his bio.

So what if he did what he did prior to the flight. You have to admire the man because he got to GO!

Worry about the idiots saying "kill the infidels", not this guy.....

26 posted on 12/01/2002 6:00:01 PM PST by isthisnickcool
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To: gg188
if someone can claim that a wooden flute is "spiritual", why not a softpack of Marlboros

Or two sticks joined in the shape of a cross?

I'm not gonna get worked up over this.

27 posted on 12/01/2002 6:01:47 PM PST by fourdeuce82d
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To: gg188

That's a good idea.

"I am Jhoffa_ and as a devout Marlboroite I find your attempted infringment on my Constitutional Right to practice my religion unacceptable"

Sure, it's pretty lame. But then so is the case made by the manipulators.

28 posted on 12/01/2002 6:05:46 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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move along, nothing to see here--just another bigot thinking FR is the place to come out of the closet and take the American out of 'Americana'

he was probably just encouraged by all the posts titled with "Religion of Peace" alerts and condemning non-hostiles for worshipping the god of their ancestors
29 posted on 12/01/2002 6:06:49 PM PST by dwills
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To: gg188
See Question #11.
30 posted on 12/01/2002 6:09:59 PM PST by Joe 6-pack
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To: gg188
A HON WA SEN NA IEN IE SOS O KA RIS TI IA KON!

(There.. does that help? )
31 posted on 12/01/2002 6:10:54 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks
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To: VoiceOfBruck
he and a good friend "smudged" "Smudged?"

Maybe it involves gobs of vaseline? Herrington sounds like he's a freak.

32 posted on 12/01/2002 6:12:20 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: Jhoffa_
Hey You Are A ™:Devout Marlboroite"™.Too ?????....

My Indian Name is "SmokealotofUltraLighties"
33 posted on 12/01/2002 6:12:25 PM PST by cmsgop
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To: BenLurkin
Almost as freakish as someone eating the body, and drinking the blood, of christ...

Now THAT is just plain sick... ;0)
34 posted on 12/01/2002 6:13:39 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks
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To: Lyford
My god! We sent a papist into space?!?! Well, the earth still spins, so I guess it was OK. ;-)
35 posted on 12/01/2002 6:15:11 PM PST by Clara Lou
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To: cmsgop
Ahhp! I forgot the little (tm) thing.

They are gonna take my house now, aren't they?

36 posted on 12/01/2002 6:15:15 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: Chad Fairbanks
For anyone who cares, it reads 'Praise to Jesus in the Eucharist' in one of those pagan, stome age samianism languages... ;0)
37 posted on 12/01/2002 6:15:41 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks
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To: Jhoffa_
Yup !!! Your screwed, LMAO!!!!!!
38 posted on 12/01/2002 6:16:55 PM PST by cmsgop
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To: xm177e2
What's this you people stuff?
39 posted on 12/01/2002 6:17:27 PM PST by Clara Lou
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To: gg188
Well at least he didn't take some peyote along with him....
40 posted on 12/01/2002 6:19:23 PM PST by FreedomCalls
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