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 A Brazilian is just about to reach the final frontier: space. Marcos Pontes, the first astronaut in the Southern Hemisphere, should fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in April next year in the Soyuz Russian spaceship.
He was selected to represent the country in the station project by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and was trained by the North American Space Agency (Nasa).
In an interview by email, the lieutenant colonel at the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) said Brazil's participation in the ISS project will throw light at the technical-scientific knowledge developed in the country and will push national companies interested in exporting high technology.
And Brazil's participation is not the only aspect of Pontes' journey. The Brazilian government has committed to invest US$ 80 million directly in the national industries, for six years, to produce and export parts and equipments to be used in the station. This investment is part of the international deal made with more than 15 countries for building and maintaining the ISS.
"There are numerous positive points about the space mission," said Pontes. According to him, amongst the advantages of the Brazilian participation are investments, generation of qualified jobs, access to the only laboratory in space for developing national researches and researchers exchange.
The details of the mission Pontes will carry out are still being concluded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, represented by the AEB, and by the Russians.
However, the astronaut should help in maintenance and assembly of the ISS and carry out experiments of Brazilian institutions. He added that Brazil is on the right path to have more astronauts. "It is important that Brazil knows how to keep well this international cooperation," he said.
The ISS is a scientific project developed by 16 countries: Russia, United States, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, England, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Holland, Spain and Brazil.
When and how came the wish to become an astronaut?
Marcos Pontes - To this day the dream of flying is what keeps me. To become an astronaut seemed a little out of reach. I started as an electrician at the (Brazilian) Federal Railroad System at the age of 14, in the city of Bauru, interior of the state of São Paulo, as a way to pay for my studies at the electronics technical school.
After that I went to the FAB (Força Aérea Brasileira - Brazilian Air Force) and graduated as a military pilot. I was a fighter plane flight instructor, squadron leader and flight safety authority. I graduated as an aeronautical engineer at the ITA (Technological Institute of Aeronautics, the Brazilian Air Force university) and took the course for plane carrier pilot.
I flew in practically every FAB airplane and some abroad, such as the F-15, F-16, F-18 and the MIG-29. I was then invited to take the master's course in systems engineering and started my doctorate in the same area in Monterey, California. In 1998 I signed up for the astronaut selection and was chosen.
Do you think Brazil may have more astronauts?
Yes. The Brazilian participation at the ISS is the path we are taking to a new era for young Brazilian professionals who wish to become astronauts some day. It is important that Brazil knows how to keep well this international cooperation.
What is the technological and scientific importance in Brazil's participation in the mission?
There are four areas directly benefited: industry, science, education and politics. We may highlight the direct investment in national industry, generation of qualified jobs, capacitation for high technology exports, access to the only laboratory in space for developing national researches, exchange of researchers, motivation for students and professionals in science and technology, development of international relations and national pride for the country's first orbital flight in the centennial of Santos Dumont's flight (2006).
What is your training in Russia going to be like, as of next month?
Training starts as soon as negotiations are concluded. It is similar to the training for the Space Shuttle operation. There are technical system classes, simulators, components assembly and disassembly, complementary techniques and systems, operational procedures, communication procedures, technical documentation, etc.
Since I already have the necessary training for the ISS operation, the training as per the station should consist only of complementation in more specific Russian systems, experiment connectivity and scientific procedure for the experiments (training by the scientific organizations and Brazilian companies to have their experiments carried out in space).
In a general way, as well as helping in maintenance and assembly of the ISS, in my first flight, I should be part of a scientific crew, carrying out experiments for national organizations for a period of 15 days. The details of the mission and experiments are being cared for by the AEB.
After concluding the conversations and defining the experiments, I will be informed of the details and start the period of necessary procedures familiarization. In this period, training should take place in Moscow, Brazil and United States.
Do you know for how long you will be in space?
There are two types of mission for the ISS: permanence missions and service missions. The permanence missions are currently made of two astronauts who remain in the station for a period of six months.
The service missions, in turn, last in average 15 days and may be composed of seven astronauts (American Space Shuttle) or three cosmonauts (Russian Soyuz). I will be part of a service mission on the Russian Soyuz, in case negotiations carried out by the AEB president, Dr. Sérgio Gaudenzi, are concluded successfully this month.
Is there already a set date for your flight to be carried out by Russia next year?
For the meantime I only have information on the period (April 2006). The negotiations underway between the Ministry of Science and Technology, through the AEB, with the Roskosmos are to set the precise date. I hope we get a positive conclusion for the negotiations very soon.
How do you feel about being the first astronaut from Brazil?
It is not easy to describe in words the feeling of being the first astronaut trained by Nasa from the Southern Hemisphere. However, I believe this may be exemplified by the satisfaction had by a thirsty survivor opening his way through a closed jungle and reaching, finally, a clearing with a fresh water sprout.
Tired, sweaty, with torn clothes and bleeding face from the thorns on the way, he looks back and sees, with a triumphant smile, that the other survivors followed him and are already crossing the path cleared out by him.
I am the first, but I don't want to be the only or the last one. I am very proud in being able to represent Brazil in a mission so important for our technological and scientific development. I will be going out to space physically alone, but I am sure the Brazilian nation will be with me.
The fact Brazil has the only trained professional astronaut in the Southern Hemisphere stands us out for international and technical-scientific knowledge acknowledgement, which is very interesting for Brazilian companies in terms of penetration in the high technology export market.
From my point of view, this fact is translated into a great responsibility in executing the missions and tasks delegated to Brazil. This responsibility is made more evident in the care and concern for efficiency in the performance in general, which includes training, in which I fortunately was able to obtain good results.
What do you plan on taking with you in your luggage?
To me was entrusted the mission of going to space and taking with me, as well as our flag, the dreams, ideals, hopes, pride and so many other feelings of an entire nation. I plan on taking Santos Dumont's watch and hat with me. Our hero will be honored in space, before the world, 100 years after his historic flight. Acknowledgement of our country, our people and our national pride.
This article appeared originally in Anba - www.anba.com.br
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