The content of this post is an adaptation of an original text written by Guy Laliberté.
We docked on Friday, October 2. During the operation, we were in radio communication with the teams aboard the ISS and the docking manoeuvres were successful. Once the docking was completed, a depressurization operation was carried out to make sure the hatch was well sealed. When we opened it, the odour was unlike anything I had smelled before. Jeff told me that it was “the smell of space!” It was really special for my sense of smell to make such a discovery.
We were warmly greeted by everyone as we entered the ISS. We were all so very happy to have reached our target! Not long after our arrival, we held a videoconference with the Mission Control Center and were able to talk to our families. It was a brief but reassuring conversation―even more so for our families, I imagine!
This beautiful little moment was followed by a presentation on security measures, our sleeping quarters, the Russian and American laundry rooms, etc. In short, we were handed such an abundance of information and introduced so quickly to our new friends that it felt like we had arrived only a few minutes ago, but it was already time for lunch!
Even though everything was going fast, I felt zen-like. I went over to the window to be by myself and stayed there for 2 or 3 hours, even treating myself to a little nap, as a bonus!
Then it was time for me to start adapting myself to life aboard the ISS. I walked around, met people, obtained more detailed explanations, started taking pictures. It was all so beautiful―I had to stop myself from taking pictures every second!
We prepared dinner and went to sleep. Actually, I didn’t sleep much but was rested enough to start the big job that would keep me busy for the next four days: the last details of the Moving Stars and Earth for Water event, including downlinks, recordings, pictures and press conferences. The event is aptly named: I’ve seen stars, I’ve seen the Earth and I’ve prepared myself extensively concerning the cause of water since I hope to touch as many people as possible.