A Cosmic Conversation with Astronaut Nicole Stott

Comoclub meets Nicole Stott, a veteran NASA astronaut who will be leading Space Camps at our COMO resorts in Phuket, Bali and the Maldives this summer.

Nicole Stott spent almost three decades working with NASA, 104 days in space at the International Space Station (ISS), and was the tenth woman in history to conduct a space walk. She is also co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation.

Her tales from the cosmos promise to inspire and educate our young Comoclubbers. Here are some extracts from our recent chat:

Could you describe what it was like looking down on Planet Earth for the first time?

Nicole: The view was crystal clear. All Earth’s colours glowed with a kind of iridescence and translucence I’d never seen before. I told my son to imagine he was looking at the brightest light bulb imaginable, splattered with all the colours of Earth and held up against the blackest black.

Space has inspired artists for centuries. What value does art have in helping us understand space?

Nicole: Art can bring the science of exploration closer to human understanding. Art is a universal communicator. Beyond the scientific community, an artistic interpretation of space exploration allows us to communicate and engage with audiences who might not otherwise know about the ISS, and the work being done there for the benefit of all life on Earth.

In your opinion, what is the most important issue space technology could solve on Earth?

Nicole: Cooperation. If we behave like crewmates, not passengers, we have the power to create a future for all life on Earth that’s as beautiful as it looks from space.

How does the work of the Space for Art Foundation fit into your mission after retiring from NASA?

Nicole: I wanted to use art as a way to share my spaceflight experience, especially with audiences who might not otherwise understand the extraordinary work being done. The aim was to give distraction, inspiration and a creative outlet to those who need it most. The Space for Art Foundation has evolved into a planetary community of children who share in the wonder of space exploration through the healing power of art.

Nicole will lead a series of Space Camps at our resorts in Phuket, Bali and the Maldives this summer, together with citizen astronaut Sara Sabry, where young Comoclubbers will learn about space through art, food and movement.

Join us this summer for a journey of the imagination that transcends the confines of our planet. Book your stays for one of our Space Camps at comohotels.com.