Astronaut shares his view from outer space

Thomas Jones, who has logged over 900 hours of space flight, received his doctoral degree from the University of Arizona's department of planetary sciences in 1988.

His last mission, Nov. 19 through Dec. 7, was aboard the space shuttle Columbia. He retrieved a satellite using the shuttle's robotic arm and monitored experiments. He was scheduled for two space walks, but on Thanksgiving Day, a jammed hatch prevented Jones from completing what would have been his first space walk.

Jones has participated in three missions during the six years he's been an astronaut. Astronauts are assigned to missions about every two years, he said.

He hopes to go up again in 1998 or 1999.

"The initial (space) experience is one of amazement when you look out the window at Earth," Jones said. "But then you go right to work."

Jones said that the first time he was in space, he unzipped his glove and let it float, just to prove he was really in free fall.

"It's an astonishing feeling of freedom," Jones said.

"We (the astronauts) are all pretty versatile when it comes to adapting to our environment," he said. "You get used to it," he said."You don't get used to seeing the Earth."

Jones recalled flying over his hometown of Baltimore "vibration-free, gliding along silently."

"The recognition that occurs is a phenomenal experience," he said.

Jones said that on another mission, the crew members turned out the cabin lights and observed the Milky Way.

"We've taken a lot of pictures," Jones said.

"The launch is the most dynamic and fun," he said, smiling. "Two and a half times the force of gravity smashes you back into your seat as you're pushed out of the atmosphere."

When he's not on a mission, Jones said his job is to support the other astronauts who are getting ready for their missions. He is also helping plan the International Space Station by determining how astronauts can live comfortably and work efficiently in space.

Jones presented a University of Arizona Alumni banner, which Jones had on his STS-80 mission in November. to the Department of Planetary Sciences Tuesday afternoon.

Kent Rollins, director of the Alumni Association, and Jim Chapel, the president of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors, accepted the banner.

The group posed for pictures while holding the banner and photographs taken from Jones' recent space mission. The alumni association provided the banner that occupied half of Jones' storage locker on the Columbia shuttle.

"I thought I'd like to take something from the University of Arizona," Jones said. He said several crew members take items such as pendants or small banners from their alma maters.

"This was the biggest flag we had up there," Jones said. He added everyone else had pendants from their schools.

Jones spoke Monday to an audience of 70 Tucsonans at the Pima Air and Space Museum."I talked about the importance of aerospace education as a vehicle for sparking kids' interests in math and education," he said.

Jones' visit was hosted by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, which operates the Pima Air and Space Museum. He donated several items from his personal collection for display at the museum's space gallery.

The aerospace foundation hopes to raise funds for a Tucson center to join the 29 Challenger Centers across the nation. These provide children with games and space flight simulations to teach them more about space science.

Jones researched asteroids as possible fuel and water space resources and studied under John Lewis, professor in planetary sciences. He received his bachelor of science degree in basic sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1977.

Jones said he wanted to be an astronaut since he was 10 years old.

"I got my qualifications here at UA," he said.