"Rapture and beauty": a writer's portrait of the International Space Station
Nature Podcast
Deep Dive
Why did Samantha Harvey choose the International Space Station as the setting for her novel 'Orbital'?
She wanted to explore space as a domestic environment and challenge the common catastrophizing of space in popular culture. The ISS, despite being only 250 miles from Earth, offers a unique perspective on the planet and humanity, blending the extraordinary with the mundane.
How did Samantha Harvey prepare for writing 'Orbital'?
She conducted extensive research, diving into public domain information from NASA and ESA, reading astronaut journals, and exploring daily life on the ISS. She also avoided direct contact with astronauts to maintain creative freedom.
What challenges did Samantha Harvey face in writing from the perspective of an astronaut?
She worried about overplaying the sense of awe and wonder, as astronauts often experience daily life on the ISS as mundane. She also struggled with the idea of representing such extraordinary individuals without feeling like she was trespassing on their experiences.
How does 'Orbital' address climate change?
The novel uses a developing typhoon as a motif to symbolize climate change, highlighting its destructive potential and the beauty of natural phenomena from space. It subtly conveys the contradictions of human impact on the Earth while astronauts observe it helplessly.
What does Samantha Harvey hope readers take away from 'Orbital'?
She hopes the book conveys a sense of rapture and beauty, a feeling of happiness and gladness at the sight of Earth. She wants readers to experience the expansion and wonder she felt while writing the novel, regardless of how they choose to act on that feeling.
How does Samantha Harvey view the ISS in relation to international cooperation and climate change?
She sees the ISS as a symbol of a bygone era of international cooperation, now fading as global unity falters. The station, once a hopeful emblem of post-Cold War unity, now feels like a relic of a more hopeful time, mirroring the challenges of addressing climate change collectively.
What unique perspective does the ISS offer on Earth?
From the ISS, astronauts can observe Earth's beauty and vulnerability simultaneously. This perspective allows for a unique blend of awe and familiarity, as they witness both the mundane tasks of daily life and the grandeur of continents and weather systems passing below.
Why does Samantha Harvey use 'earth' with a lowercase 'e' in her novel?
She finds it touching that Earth is the only planet named after its composition (dirt), rather than a grandiose Greek or Roman deity. Using a lowercase 'e' underscores the Earth's familiarity and the tenderness humans feel for it, despite its humble name.
- Orbital is set over 24 hours, encompassing 16 orbits of Earth.
- The novel focuses on the daily lives of astronauts, showcasing both the extraordinary and ordinary.
- Harvey aimed for 'space realism,' portraying space as a familiar, domestic environment rather than a fantastical setting.
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