Astronaut Namira Salim undergoes training in US before space journey

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first female astronaut Namira Salim has said that on the first day of training she and other astronauts learnt about fitting spacesuits and parachutes to perfection.

In her statement issued from the United States, she said, “We are also trained about the functionality of our custom-made seats in the spaceship and how to fasten and unfasten our seat belts so we leave our seats in zero gravity well oriented and take the necessary steps to maximize our experience in space.

“We have also learnt to make gentle movements not to bump into windows or fellow astronauts and how to naturally drift when floating in zero gravity.”

She said there will be a more exciting second day of training, full of surprises, and she would share its details.

Namira is the first woman from Pakistan who has the honour of reaching the poles — hoisting Pakistan’s flag at the North Pole on April 21, 2007 and at the South Pole on January 8, 2008, Pakistan’s official news agency reported.

She also met Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi last month before her departure to the US on her onward journey to space.

During that meeting, Namira informed the federal minister about the preparations for her space journey.

Namira is determined to raise Pakistan’s flag in space as her journey is a sign of Pakistan’s growing presence in space exploration, a major achievement for the nation.