Air Force colonel back from Atlantis

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Mar 5, 2008 | by Mark Abramson

Former San Carlos resident Rex Walheim has returned from a 5.3 million-mile trip that took him around the world -- multiple times.

Walheim, 45, an Air Force colonel, was aboard the space shuttle Atlantis during its recent mission to deliver and help connect the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station. Hooking up Columbus to the space station involved Walheim making three space walks that totaled about 22 hours.

This wasn't a new experience for Walheim; he also spent about 14 hours walking in space during an Atlantis mission in 2002.

"One thing that was nice is I knew what to expect," the Tierra Linda Middle School and San Carlos High graduate said of his second mission. "Your body kind of remembers zero gravity, so it felt more normal. It's a lot of fun, it's a lot of pressure and it's an incredible view."

Walheim said he took binoculars on his first mission and could make out details like Interstate 280, Golden Gate Park and the Crystal Springs Reservoir. This time around, he recalled being able to see stretches of Earth that spanned from the Great Lakes to Florida.

"I could see the whole area where I grew up," Walheim said. "I could see the San Carlos Airport."

Walheim spent a year preparing for the mission, which included spending 150 to 200 hours rehearsing the walks in a massive pool at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

One of the most memorable parts of the journey was blasting off, Walheim said.

"I was surprised by how much (the shuttle) shook," Walheim said. "I had problems reading the instruments, because it was shaking so much. They got video and there is a big old smile on my face."

The roll during launch may look graceful, but it feels like someone is tugging on your body because of the centrifugal forces, he said. Theshuttle goes from zero to 17,500, or Mach 25, in 81/ 2minutes before it reaches space. During the landing, it relies on air resistance to slow it down.

About 100 of Walheim's friends and family members, including his wife, Margie, and sons Alex, 11, and Jeffrey, 9, watched the Feb. 7 launch in Florida. Walheim returned to terra firma Feb. 20.

Walheim's brother, Lance Walheim, said of Rex's second shuttle launch, "It was probably even more exciting. Even though I've seen it before, it's so spectacular."

Lance, 55, a horticulturist in Exeter, said he watched the mission on NASA's TV channel.

Rex Walheim said being weightless in the shuttle's cramped quarters takes some getting used to.

On his first mission, he bumped his head frequently on the shuttle's ceiling, Walheim said. He said this time he used the foot straps on the floor that are designed to keep astronauts planted while they work. Astronauts deal with zero gravity at bedtime by settling down in sleeping bag-like hammocks that are tied down and zipped up around the neck so the astronauts don't float away.

Walheim also described the landing as an experience in itself. Peering out of the shuttle's windows on re-entry, astronauts can see the orange glow from the heat coming off the craft.

"You are basically a big glider," Walheim said. "Most of it is flown by the computer until you get to 50,000 feet and just below Mach 1."

Although it is unclear whether Walheim will get a third ride into space, his next trip will probably not be aboard a shuttle.

NASA plans to end the shuttle program in 2010, and only 12 flights are left, including next week's Endeavour mission, NASA spokeswoman Kylie Clem said.

Regardless of whether he returns to space, Walheim said he is grateful for the experiences he has had on Atlantis.

"It was one of those things that I really didn't think was possible," he said.

E-mail Mark Abramson at mabramson@dailynewsgroup.com.