In March 2009, American Scott Parazynski — a seasoned astronaut with five NASA space shuttle flights under his belt, including seven extravehicular activities, and over 23 million miles (37 million kilometers) logged — decided to retire from wearing his spacesuit.
"The opportunity to fly came only once, perhaps repeated two times at most, yet I was eager to extend my capabilities as both an innovator and business leader," states the individual who is 63 years old.
Several months following his retirement, the US space agency , Parazynski attempted to summit Mount Everest However, at 7,470 metres (24,500 feet), he had to abandon due to a back injury.
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Unshaken, he made another attempt the next year and successfully scaled Earth's tallest mountain above sea level. He achieved this feat by reaching the summit at 4 am on May 20, 2009, which marked his status as the first individual to have traveled into space and also climbed the world’s highest peak.
Parazynski is a physician by background—he served as the personal doctor to his idol, John Glenn, onboard the Discovery shuttle during the former US senator’s comeback trip to space in 1998.
His other daring accomplishments encompass scuba diving within a volcanic lake amidst the Andes mountain range in South America, being the first person to descend into Nicaragua’s Masaya volcano, and exploring Antarctica, where he managed the healthcare for personnel involved in the United States government’s Antarctic program.
He is also a seasoned pilot, boasting over 2,500 flight hours, as well as an accomplished athlete; in 1988, he participated in the tryouts for the U.S. Olympic luge team. "I fell just short of making it," he admits.
Even with his accomplishments, Parazynski stays modest and equally enjoys discussing his successes as much as his setbacks, which he openly shared in his 2017 autobiography. The Sky Below.
“I didn’t want this book to focus solely on life’s triumphs,” states Parazynski. He mentions that many autobiographies and biographies he has read tend to revolve around “Take a look at how splendid and effortless my journey through life was.”
He remarks that life is difficult, thus he feels proud as it showcases overcoming hurdles and challenges throughout. The Sky Below .
His rich life journey has made him a highly requested speaker worldwide, and this month he was featured in Hong Kong speaking at events organized by the Royal Geographical Society Hong Kong.
I aim to inspire individuals not only to aspire to be astronauts, but to strive to be their highest selves and contribute positively to society through fields like science, engineering, math, or anything else they're passionate about—I simply wish to encourage people to make an effort towards advancing our world in whichever manner they can.
At the Mandarin Oriental hotel In Hong Kong’s Central district, Parazynski walks confidently into the clubroom with his hand extended.
What strikes you initially is his height, approximately six feet two inches (188cm), though he appeared even more towering when in space.
"When we venture into space, our bodies undergo several changes such as weakening muscles and reduced bone density along with increased strain on the heart — it diminishes slightly unless rigorous daily exercise is maintained," says Parazynski, who previously focused his initial medical studies on designing workout equipment for extended space missions.
In space, Parazynski grew approximately two and a half inches taller.
"He explains that we naturally have a curved spine, but in space, without the downward pull of gravity, the spine elongates." Several trips to space led to a herniated disk. tear in his lower back .
For individuals spending extended periods in space—six months or longer—they get exposed to significant amounts of radiation, which increases their chances of developing cancer.
Adapting to life on Earth poses difficulties as well.
"After every mission, you experience an amazing rush, followed by the mundane tasks of taking out the trash, navigating traffic, and paying the bills," he remarks, chuckling.
However, he wouldn’t change it for anything else; his career has been “a blessing” — a childhood aspiration turned reality.
At a young age, he became acquainted with the space sector. "My father worked at Boeing And I was involved in the space program that assisted in building the rockets which initially sent astronauts to the moon as part of Project Apollo, so I was really into that."
His passion for travel was instilled quite young as well. At the age of eleven, he relocated with his family to Senegal in Western Africa, followed by moves to Lebanon, Greece, and Iran.
Throughout all those years, his dream was to become an astronaut.
I kept it under wraps as I believed folks might consider me outlandish, yet it lingered at the edge of my thoughts.
Following his medical studies and graduation from Stanford University in the U.S., Parazynski became part of NASA in 1992.
“I possessed the necessary qualifications to apply, which allowed me to chase my childhood ambition and spend 17 years at NASA,” states Parazynski, who was inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2016.
While working at NASA, he accumulated over 47 hours of extravehicular activity during spacewalks. This includes one conducted in 2007 aimed at repairing a solar panel on the International Space Station. International Space Station where he was situated on a 90-foot extension arm, facing the danger of electric shock. This mission is considered one of the most hazardous space walks in history.
However, every risk taken was worthwhile, he states. Catching sight of the Earth's curve from space for the initial time left him astounded. He emphasizes that nothing could have adequately prepared him for this experience.
You're moving at breakneck speeds, you know, about 25,000 kilometers per hour, completing an orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes, which means you'll see either a sunrise or a sunset approximately every 25 minutes.
Like numerous astronauts before him, space travel has had a transformative impact on Parazynski. "Upon returning, everyone experiences a significant change for the better—typically developing a strong commitment to environmentalism."
Few return with a spiritual awakening, though I wasn’t blessed with one; nonetheless, I felt an overwhelming sense of fortune and humility.
I departed feeling amazed and driven to contribute everything possible towards enhancing the quality of life on our planet.
This involves interacting with Proteus Ocean Group, a cutting-edge underwater scientific research facility established by Fabien Cousteau, who is the grandson of renowned French sea explorer. Jacques Cousteau .
Parazynski's dedication to protecting the oceans has been ignited by his enduring fascination with diving, which began when he was just 1 eleven years old.
The seas are essential for our planet’s survival; thus, I am dedicated to safeguarding them... Since 70 percent of our world is submerged under water, it would only be fitting to rename it Planet Ocean rather than Planet Earth.
Currently, Parazynski’s primary role involves leading OnwardAir, an eco-tech company he established. The business focuses on creating electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles enhanced with sophisticated control systems.
He is equally thrilled about the "renaissance of space travel".
What’s currently going on in the realm of commercial space flights? SpaceX , Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic Companies that can securely and repeatedly bring more individuals into space are truly thrilling.
He heaps praise onto NASA's Artemis program, which represents a significant move toward sending humans back to the moon, and he speaks positively about the plans put forth by Elon Musk aims to establish a colony on Mars "is human destiny".
Regarding the status of space exploration, this is a non-partisan matter in the United States, according to Parazynski.
He notes that there’s significant backing for space exploration, which is fantastic, yet simultaneously, substantial reductions are being made across all agencies, making it difficult to predict how this will ultimately turn out.
He highlights that one of the greatest aspects of investing in space is how it yields returns across various sectors here on Earth.
"When I enter a hospital's operating room or intensive care unit, there are numerous technologies present with roots tracing back to the space program," he explains.
In outer space, we needed to determine ways to support life for the initial astronauts and conduct surgeries as well as lab experiments.
You need to shrink various sensors and devise innovative methods for operating without gravity, yet this also opens up possibilities for treating individuals in distant and rural areas... it essentially marked the start of telemedicine and telehealth.
And we mustn't overlook that space travel sounds great, offering those fortunate—or wealthy—enough to witness it an unparalleled visual spectacle, especially during the spacewalks where “you’re outside in your own small spacecraft, surrounded by the cosmos and gazing down at our home planet.”
Among the most impressive experiences I've had was soaring through the Northern Lights during the nighttime," recounts Parazynski. "A delicate veil of faint luminescence stretched hundreds of miles vertically across the sky, and we passed directly through it. Absolutely surreal.
A notable moment was capturing images of Mount Everest from space—a challenging task given the supersonic speed during travel.
For individuals looking for motivation from one who has pushed boundaries extensively, Parazynski mentions that he uses pre-visualization—a method he acquired during his time as an athlete.
By mentally rehearsing the sequence of events from that day’s ascent, or a complex medical operation, or a challenging extravehicular activity, you significantly increase your chances of success.
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The article initially appeared on the South ChinaMorning Post (www.scmp.com), which serves as the premier source of news covering China and Asia.
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