Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - An Astronaut's Dream (Premium)

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hi, Thomas here. You're listening to a preview episode. You can enjoy the entire story tonight by subscribing to our supporters' feed. There you'll get access to the entire back catalogue, bonus episodes, and more, and it's all completely ad-free. Click the link below to learn more. And thank you so so much. Me and the team really appreciate your support. You may not think about the pull of gravity very often, but this powerful force is always acting on you. Right now, it's pulling you snugly down into your bed. Gravity is constantly attracting countless gas molecules. Attracting countless gas molecules, creating a blanket of air around the earth. This blanket allows you to breathe.

Starting point is 00:01:12 It's our atmosphere. Take another deep breath of that refreshing air now. Now. And as you let it out, develop a sense of floating on water. This is the closest experience we have to zero gravity here on earth. There's that sensation of weightlessness, playing perfectly still with your arms and legs stretched out. You can float on the top of the water. Pay close attention to these sensations. Little ripples atop the surface of the water cause you to sway gently. As you breathe in, your body floats a bit higher atop the water.

Starting point is 00:02:16 As you breathe out, your body sinks just an inch or two, allowing those ripples of water to wash across your belly. This is just buoyancy, not zero gravity like in space, but it's close enough to use as a training ground for astronauts. as a training ground for astronauts. Wearing their spacesuits, astronauts dive into massive swimming pools or hours on end. They carry out spacewalks to get a custom to the sensations and difficulties of moving in space. Handles line every surface.

Starting point is 00:03:06 Trainees must use one hand to hold themselves in place while they perform tasks with the other hand. If they let go, they are tethered to the underwater workspace to prevent them from floating away. The same is true for real space walks. Being tethered in is even more important in space because you can't swim back. This might make you appreciate the reliability of gravity here on Earth. It allows you to experience the gratification of sitting down after a long walk. That's a common excitement for astronauts returning to Earth, just sitting down. There's something quite special about it that we take for granted. About giving your body weight into something that will fully support you, like your bed, or a comfy chair.

Starting point is 00:04:32 So, it's when you begin to float that you realize you are no longer on earth. You're weightless. Now, you've reached outer space. You're wearing a white astronaut's uniform. Pick, OZ, and Protective. You look down and check your seatbelt, safe, and secure. You can't float too far, just an inch or two off of your seat. The navigation system in front of you is dotted with colored blinking lights. As the force of gravity fades, a new sense of stillness takes its place. Out here, you'll experience microgravity, not zero gravity.

Starting point is 00:05:25 The Earth still has a slight pull. It's what allows your ship to remain in orbit. You've always wondered what it's like in space, and now you're starting to find out. You're on a trip to the International Space Station. A spacecraft operated and manned by multiple nations that orbits Earth at about 250 miles. It's the first home base for humans in space where we can collect information and conduct experiments not possible on our home planet. You hear the recognizable buzz of a radio, bottled by information from the Ground Command Center.

Starting point is 00:06:20 You've reached orbit. Now, it's safe to leave your seat.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - An Astronaut's Dream (Premium)

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