fb-pixelNew England Aquarium to host astronaut appearance - The Boston Globe Skip to main content

New England Aquarium to host astronaut appearance

ISS Expedition 32 flight engineers Sunita Williams of NASA and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency performed a spacewalk in 2012.NASA/REUTERS

Sunita Williams, who holds the record for most time spent walking in space by a female astronaut, will be speaking at the New England Aquarium Thursday after diving into the aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank.

Williams, 49, has a total spacewalk time of 50 hours and 40 minutes. She has also spent nine days in the world’s only underwater research station Florida, a statement from the aquarium said.

Astronauts often train in underwater environments because it simulates the challenging gravity environment experienced in space, the statement said.

After diving into the tank at 9 a.m., Williams will answer questions from the public.

Advertisement



Later in the afternoon, from noon to 2 p.m., Sue Curley, a NASA policy specialist and spacesuit expert, will compare spacesuit technology to diving equipment in a live presentation.

Outside the aquarium, at the Harbor View Terrace, NASA will display its Destination Station, a mobile exhibit that educates visitors about NASA and the International Space Station.

The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.


Felicia Gans can be reached at felicia.gans@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @FeliciaGans.