Living in two extreme conditions, Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams, aboard the International Space Station and marine biologist Timothy Shank aboard Alvin, the first deep-ocean submersible, shared views on their respective jobs.The 15-minute conversation, which took place on Friday at 1:45 pm CST, was broadcast on NASA Television, following the conclusion of a station status media briefing from NASA’s Johnson Space Center here.The two talked about the similarities and difference in their jobs and compared notes on science and exploration. In addition, they also responded to several queries submitted by students, educators and public.Speaking from inside Alvin, two miles beneath the Pacific Ocean, Shank talked with Expedition 14 flight engineer Williams.“Greetings Alvin, this is the International Space Station Alpha, flying about 250 miles above the Earth’s surface,” Sunita said.Replying to a question about what alien life forms each of them had seen so far in their separate environments, Sunita said: “We haven’t seen anything up here, but I’m sure you’ve seen stuff that looks pretty weird down there. “Yes, absolutely Suni,” said Shank, a researcher with the Woods Hold Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). He added: “Some of the life forms down here I think of as being aliens.”Despite differences in their research as Shank works in a murky aquatic environment beyond the reach of the Sun, while Williams sees 15 sunrises a day, the two scientists have found a common ground.
