detail from: KRK Art dizajn

BUTTERFLY LOVE IN SPACE-8

SIMO JELACA, Ph.D.

  CHAPTER 16

When arriving in Moscow they were given a few days for the accommodation and sightseeing of the city’s eminent galleries and monuments. 

They first visited Tretyakovskaya Gallery (Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakovsky), founded in 1856. It contains nearly 2,000 items, out of which 1,362 paintings, 526 drawings and 9 sculptures. Then they visited the gallery where the only painting was Battle of Borodino, set on a circular wall length of 118 m, so that conjures up a battle between Napoleon and Kutuzov. The two armies are in conflict on a vast expanse of the Russian steppes, conquering Napoleon and Russia’s general Kutuzov, defending the homeland, which was eager to defend it at the cost of survival. The picture is set up so that spectators can see both-army infantries, cavalry and artillery, to a distance of about thirty kilometers in all directions. In addition to the military, it is the farmhouse on fire and grain fields that attackers burned. In front of the visitors, who stand on a raised podium in the center of the hall, burned beams, burning houses and real sheaves of grain, are placed below the image so that they evoke the real atmosphere. The impression is completed with perfumes smelling of fire, all of which gives the visitor a unique impression that is not encountered anywhere else in the world. Battle of Borodino is a unique work of artistic value. 

They were especially delighted with the Moscow underground, whose stations are vast halls, with painted walls and ceilings. Something like this does not exist anywhere in the world. They had a short time to walk around the Kremlin with the Red Square. They were told about Russia and Russian people: Russia’s population is about 150 million inhabitants. She is a multinational state, who has allocated 180 nationalities. The Russian language is very dominant, and used by 98% of the population. It is one of the five most common languages ​​in the world. Daniella and Daniel were able to understand custodians in galleries and tourist guides.

An area of ​​17,075,400 km² makes Russia the largest country in the world. The area of Siberia is 9.7 million square kilometers. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth. 25% of the forests in the world are located in Siberia. Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev was a Russian chemist, known as one of the two scientists who created the periodic table of elements. The father of modern television was the Russian electronics engineer and inventor Vladimir Zworykin, who had immigrated to the US in 1919. Russian scientists invented the TV, electronic microscope, a helicopter, a bomber, a video recorder, color photograph, gasoline engine, harvester, a gun, a synthetic rubber, radio, drill, projector, electric submarine, detergent, and many other things. One of the most popular computer games, Tetris, was created by Russian programmer Alexei Peyton. Yuri Gagarin, was the first cosmonaut who entered the orbit of the Earth.

Daniella and Daniel were accommodated in the Cosmonaut Hotel, together with five other astronauts, who were prepared to fly with them, as a new crew. They were all introduced to each other with new passengers: one astronaut was from Canada (Chris), one from the US (Robert), one from Russia (Boris), one from Japan (Akashi) and one from Germany (Fritz). All of them spoke English and Russian. Rooms in the hotel were large, with massive Jacuzzis, and with all sorts of facilities. They were spotlessly clean and sterile. The food was great, and the kitchen absolutely hygienic. For breakfast they had oatmeal, yogurt, omelet, caviar, honey, nuts and fruits. There was coffee, tea, hot chocolate and many other things. Daniella didn’t know that in the Cosmonaut Hotel was another couple prepared as a second crew, just-in-case if anything went wrong with them, at the last spot.

They were prepared to go in the beginning of December 2043, and the start will be about noon. Baikonur winters are usually severe, although for the day of their flight the weather forecast was to be sunny without wind.

The day they left Star City, Russia, to fly to Kazakhstan, it was sunny. All the passengers were silent with their dreams in their minds. When they flew over the River Syr Darya and the flat fields they had noticed camels strolling between fences. In Baikonur they have seen a tree planted by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. 

When all passengers were in the suit-up facility, technicians helped them to check the pressure and confirmed that there were no leaks. Then a bus took them to the launch pad. Families who were saying farewells were left looking after those who were going-to-space any-minute. The sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly, but the air had a sharp bite. They waved to their loved-ones. In cases like that everyone had thought “We would not see each other for a long, even maybe never”. Before going to the launch pad everyone had to use the toilet. Once they are locked in a rocket ship they will not be able to leave their seats for a few hours. Astronauts went first from the bus, then medical staff, and at the end Daniella and Daniel. Daniella was the center of attention, as it was already known what her duty in space would be. The space ship was in a vertical position, ready for liftoff. The most critical time after liftoff is the first ten minutes, but astronauts are trained well and able to react properly in every second. When the spaceship is launched-up then the vibrations are too high while acceleration lasts. Passengers on the ship are prepared well for that. Everyone was in his/her seat, and astronauts were checking their instruments. The flight control had switched from Baikonur to the Russian Mission Control Centre in Korolev, near Moscow.  Counting started and launched off. After all the stages of the fuel buster reservoirs were separated, and engines shut off and right speed achieved, the control astronaut had announced: 

-Hey, we made it. We are in space.  

The passengers experienced zero gravity, as they had felt it while training. They started physical and psychological adaptation to the environment differently than on Earth. Everyone had to check the pressure and oxygen supply, every so often. Daniella and Daniel were sitting one beside the other and spoke through the speakers and earphones. They also watched Earth, which was beautifully blue, looking from the sky. Their flight was more modern than many before, improved to perfection by laser technology and much safer. They were familiarized with that, and felt safer when they made their decision and when flying to space. While flying towards the International Space Station their space ship was rotating around Earth, so they already started to feel changes of day time. Every hour and a half they had another sunrise and sunset, like another short day. Dr Anastasia Christopher, their doctor in space, was sitting next to Daniella, and she spoke to Daniella from time to time. They all enjoyed the flight and their time passed relatively quickly.

When their ship approached the ISS astronauts maneuvered it with cameras focusing for the precision connection. The crew inside was waiting for the arrival of the new crew with guests, and were ready to open the hatch when the instruments showed everything properly connected. It lasted almost about half-an-hour, but when the previous crew opened it there was a loud exclamation from both sides: -Bravo and welcome to your new home. They started moving from the spaceship to the Space Station, first two astronauts, then Daniella and Daniel, after them entered doctor Christopher, and finally three more astronauts. Those last astronauts had to unload the supply brought by the ship, and set all instruments in an idling position. As everyone was entering the station they were floating, like fish in deep waters, and presenting themselves to the crew members in the station. When they all were inside there were thirteen members, each one hugging the others, five from the previous crew and eight newcomers. After settling down, they made a joint meal and celebrated, with drinks of vodka brought from Moscow. Daniel and Daniella got their separate room, and Dr Anastasia got hers, nearest to Daniella’s. In the beginning their movements while floating looked funny to them as they were still yet not accustomed to the floating. When meeting each other they were waving hands and laughing. 

As soon as everyone settled down, the astronauts started to do their operations. They are well trained as to what each of them was supposed to do. Since both crews were together, the previous one was reporting what was in progress and what to continue. Daniel had been trained to do the computer supervision, as well as the mechanical repairs inside the cabins. He also had brought some insects which destroy forests and had a task to test those under no-gravity life conditions. The aim was to find out the best way to destroy them on Earth. Daniella had her biomedical experiments with plants for pharmaceutical purposes. She started those, and crew members gave her instructions about what was possible to use and where. Dr Anastasia Christopher, Daniella’s doctor, was preparing everything necessary to follow her, and at the same time, as she was interested in Daniella’s experiments, she was helping her. The whole team had been trained on Earth and prepared well, so they reacted in space all as one. The atmosphere among the staff was the best. All were healthy, willing to do their tasks, and enjoying their new type of life. Everyone had been taking pictures from the space, to remember later. As the ISS was circulating the Earth every 92 minutes, in an hour-and-a-half they have seen the whole world around. And, as the rut changes during every rotation it was interesting to watch different parts of the globe. 

Since there were no regular days and nights on the International Space Station (those are every hour-and-a-half), members of the station staff have adjusted themselves when each of them sleep. Anyway, astronauts work in shifts. Daniel and Daniella had their sleep time together, enjoying their love, which was very interesting and unusual as compared with the Earth’s. They loved each other very much, so they enjoyed their task given to them for the human race. Making love in space reminds them of butterflies, regarding the no-gravity. Daniel was making jokes on that subject and they laughed over it. Since Daniella had to report to Dr Anastasia all their remarks, she even mentioned that to her, and they both laughed. Dr Anastasia said to her:

-I can come here next time with my husband to experience it myself. It must be very interesting. Thanks for telling me that.

Daniella and Daniel were repeating their biological exercise for fertilization every night, which was like their second honey-moon. Really, they were the only couple from the Earth who had a honeymoon in space, so far. Regardless of how much they were worried before making the decision whether they would accept it or refuse, they enjoyed it very much, and didn’t regret it. Dr Anastasia was satisfied with their conclusion. She was writing notes in her diary, but didn’t report every single detail to the Control Station on Earth, so far yet. 

When the astronauts completed their take over and the shuttle was ready for return, the previous crew, five of them: two Americans (Edward and John), one German (Fredric), one Russian (Pavel) and one Canadian (Bob) shook hands and hugged everyone who remained, and slowly floated down to the shuttle. An hour later they separated from the station and disappeared. 

The new crew with Dr Anastasia Christopher, Daniella and Daniel continued their regular daily activities. They even had direct telephone contacts with their loved ones, so Erika and Una were able to know every day how they were feeling. Dr Anastasia was authorized to report to the National Research Council and Canadian Space Agency how her candidates are feeling, and how the whole project is progressing.     

  Just when astronauts were preparing celebration for New Years Eve, by the Greenwich Time, year 2044, Daniella came out with the news to Dr Anastasia that she has something to tell her: 

-What’s the news, my dear? Are you? She didn’t even finish her question, when Daniella said: 

-I think I am pregnant. I haven’t had a period since the time I should.  

Dr Anastasia officially confirmed it. She was right. 

Then the whole crew started to fly through the empty space of the Station, celebrating the successful mission and the New Year at the same time. That was really the best reason for celebration for their whole life, no question. Dr Anastasia reported that to the Earth Control, to Canadian Space Agency, to NASA, and she said to Daniella and Daniel:

-Now, you should call your parents and congratulate them.

Daniella called first her mom, telling her: 

-Mom, we congratulate you for the New Year, and you will become a grandma. Her mom screamed of joy: -You are pregnant, aren’t you? Yes, mom, we are going to have a baby in the New Year. Tell that to papa, too, and celebrate this holiday with happiness. We love you and wish you all the best. Good luck.

At the same time Daniel had phoned his parents. It was just about ten minutes before midnight in Canada, Eastern Time, when his brother picked up the receiver and put it on the speaker phone, for all of them to listen. 

–Here’s Daniel calling. We wish you a happy New Year, and with our news, we are going to have a baby! 

Also in their house all of them started to scream with happiness. That was the best news for the New Year, no comparison. That’s how the New 2044 Year started, for Daniel and Daniella, as well as for all of Canada and the world. 

The crew congratulated everyone in his family and officially to the Canadian Space Agency, to Russian Mission Control Center, and to NASA.

The weather on Earth on New Year’s Day was very nice, and all around the globe, the day was sunny, the night without winds or any other disturbance. It was just nice for celebration. Even in Canada and Russia there was not much snow. Those years were peaceful, no wars on Earth, and people felt happy.  

Thinking about Earth high in the sky, it is known that Earth is the only planet, known so far, with existing life on it. A very important element on Earth is carbon, existing in different forms. From space one can view the Earth as a whole system of complex interactions in regards to natural and human influences, such as: Sun’s solar variability and atmosphere’s increasing concentration of carbon dioxide and aerosols, and what the consequences for life on Earth and these changes. Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 21% of oxygen, produced by plants. The average distance of Earth from the Sun is 149,598.262 km. Earth’s orbit is an oval ellipse, with an inclination to orbit is 23.4393° and rotation around the Sun in 365.2422 days. Air surrounds Earth up to 160 km, and is thinner and thinner farther from the surface. An ozone layer above the stratosphere, prevents the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gasses in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, by which they warm the Earth. It has been estimated that the upper atmosphere extends during the day and contracts at night, due to heating and cooling. 

The mentioned data was familiar to all astronauts, but those who do not study it are glad to hear it. Dr Anastasia, Daniella and Daniel enjoyed watching the Earth from the sky. She looks blue, as wrapped with the thick blue layer of air. The crew which had already been at the ISS almost a year was ready to go home. They were counting days for the shuttle to bring supplies and take them down. Everyone was eager to see their family. The plan was for the shuttle to arrive in the third week of January. The Canadian Space Agency gave Dr Anastasia Christopher information for Daniel that he can return, if he wants. They say it’s up to him. When Dr Anastasia spoke to him, he had consulted Daniella and they decided that he can go, but Daniella would like him to come back for her due day, to be with her and help her, as well. So, all three of them together made such a decision, and informed CSA back that Daniel will return, but would like to be back for the baby’s arrival. It had been accepted. CSA told Daniel that he would need to continue training and be fit for any time.              

The previous crew (Edward, John, Fredric, Pavel and Bob) were ready to leave the shuttle, so they picked up their personal belongings and started to squeeze through the hatch of the just arrived ship. Daniel got ready and he embraced Daniella warmly, kissing her many times and wishing her a safe stay, hugged Dr Anastasia, and shook hands with all crew members. He   slowly squeezed out too, and the hatch was closed. It took about half-an-hour time, again, until everything was properly closed and their ship disconnected from the space station. Dwellers in the Station watched the ship until it disappeared in the sky. One mission was done successfully. 

The space ship landed in California late in the afternoon, where masses of people always wait to salute returns from space. Among them were Daniel’s father and his older brother Akan. Medical staff accepted the astronauts and Daniel into the quarantine, and they had been seen only through the glass windows, waving to each other. It took them just a few more days to pass through all medical exams and exercises, to be able to walk again. During that time Michael and Akan waited in a hotel, so that when Daniel was released they met and went back to Ottawa together. In Ottawa they just visited a house and then took a drive to Toronto, to meet families. Two days later Daniel had to return to continue his exercises, as he needed to be ready in eight months, or at any time to go again into space. While with his and Daniella’s parents he told them about details on the Space Station and Daniella’s work and duties. Most of all Daniella’s mother Erika asked a thousand questions about the baby's arrival, how that will be done, when they can expect it, and on and on. Daniel was explaining everything to her in detail, according to Dr Anastasia’s instructions, and he assured Erika that everything will be done well. He also said them:

 -I plan to go there again, just before the due date, so don't worry. The whole nation is behind her. Erika added: 

-We’ll be all waiting for your return, give our best wishes to Daniella, and tell her that we are looking forward to seeing our first grandchild, a grandchild born in space. We are happy, but at the same timeworried all the time. Thank you for being with us all the time.

At his institution, Daniel also had meetings with the president and all department directors, managers and the research staff at the National Research Council. A few days he continued his research, parallel with daily exercises, while being under surveillance all the time for his safety and protection, which he hardly noticed. They always do their job as discreetly as possible. He spent a few more days at the Canadian Space Agency, reporting to them as well. 

Daniel was getting ready for his future experiments and thinking about Daniella almost non-stop, expecting that all would go well. They were in love and they planned their future together and both of their parents. He looked very serious and responsible.

CHAPTER 17

Daniel and Daniella were in regular contact every day. Her pregnancy went out without any abnormalities. He was getting ready to return to her. The Canadian Space Agency had informed him that a Russian nurse, Natasha Borisovna, would fly with him. She had to assist Dr Anastasia Christopher. It was September, 2044 when he had been called to travel to Moscow, to attend the procedure by the Russian Mission Control Centre in Korolev. There he met Natasha and three new astronauts: Louis Echeveria, a Spaniard, Michael Lavrov, a Russian, and Chung Liang, a Chinese person.    

 They all went through the similar procedure as before. Daniel was familiar with it and hadn’t been afraid. Even during takeoff he spoke to Natasha about what would follow, but she was impatient, as she knew for the first ten minutes what to expect. After that they were both relaxed, and Daniel told her about Daniella. She was also interested in Canada, as a country and life in Ottawa. Natasha was a nice looking woman, about twenty eight years of age. She had finished medicine in Moscow at the Lomonosov University, four years ago, and worked at the University hospital. 

When the ship was approaching the space station, dwellers in the station watched through windows and with impatience waited to embrace each other. Daniella was the most impatient. She eagerly waited on Daniel’s warm hug. The joining of the ship and station lasted relatively long, almost over an hour, when the hatch was opened. Daniel went in first and screamed loudly: 

-Welcome back! 

Daniella was already floating over him, and jumped on his shoulders. The hug lasted ten minutes, if not even longer, floating hugged, while Natasha was entering. As everyone came into the space station, all the dwellers hugged them, one by one. The cheerfulness lasted long, accompanied by songs and music. The previous eight members in the station and new five newcomers were all floating like bees in the beehive, or butterflies on flowers. The astronauts were exchanging news about their duties, while Dr Anastasia concentrated on Daniella’s condition and the decisive role of Daniel and Natasha in the future activities. She had also informed them that Daniella’s condition was going quite well as it should be, and she was expecting everything to be perfect. She had also mentioned to them that Daniella didn’t want to know the gender of the baby before it’s born, which was her privilege. But in reports which she was sending to the Earth institutions she said what she had to. Daniel also accepted Daniella’s decision, and he continued to obey the same rule.   

Only twelve days were left until the due day, but since the officials on the ground knew what was expected they had sent all necessary equipment for the baby, which astronauts didn’t want to unload in front of Daniel’s view. They had kept it a secret. 

When Daniella and Daniel went to sleep they were careful of each other and Daniel noticed how her body was so spectacularly beautiful, with the enormous bump on her belly and her breasts were large and full, bigger than they’d been before, and she had long graceful legs. She had been remarkably beautiful. They spent half of the night endearing oneself, and whispering so that the others didn’t hear. They enjoyed being together after eight months.

Dr Anastasia had prepared Natasha for all duties that each of them two will do when the delivery starts. She told Natasha that they are expecting twins, a boy and a girl, which Daniella and Daniel didn’t know. But the crew had brought skafandras for two babies and everything else necessary. 

While on board in the station for those eight months, Daniella had carried on with her experiments with plants. She found that conditions for growing plants in space are very good concerning the sun, but not as well concerning necessity for water. In space water needed to be produced at the space station. The process of water production was generally based on the Sabatier system (developed by the Nobel Prize winner, chemist Paul Sabatier), which consists of the catalytic reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen – both byproducts of life-support systems on board the space station – produces water and methane. That interaction closes the loop in the oxygen and water regeneration cycle. It provides a way to produce water without the need to transport it from Earth. An improved method was an interaction of the Oxygen Generation System, which is a provider of hydrogen. Since Daniella had to leave the station soon, some of the astronauts needed to continue her experiments. They knew that and it was already taken care of by who would do it. As her due day approached everybody was ready to do his/her duty. Daniella and Daniel were most excited. The arrival of their baby, the first baby born in space, will definitely change their lives completely. 

Daniella announced her first pains about 5.30 a.m. Greenwich time on October first 2044. Dr Anastasia and Natasha were with her all the time. The two of them had prepared everything for the delivery. Anastasia was telling Daniella what to do, and when delivery started how to push. Delivery started about a quarter to seven, and the first baby boy was born at 7.15 (Canadian East time 2.15 a.m. October 1^st, 2044). The second baby, a girl, was born half-an-hour later, at 2.45. Daniel was present all the time, watching but didn’t want to disturb her. He was surprised when he realized that they had two babies. But Dr Anastasia and Natasha knew it, as they were doing ultrasound whenever it was necessary and they already had informed the responsible Earth institutions to be ready. Soon, after Anastasia and Natasha had done what they were supposed to do with babies and Daniella, they had made a picture of babies and sent it to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. Just a few minutes after receiving the picture all of those agencies announce it world-wide under big headings “CANADIAN TWINS, FIRST BABIES BORN IN SPACE'' and similar headlines. It became a Breaking News all over the world.

That day became a National Day in Canada, and everywhere people were talking about such an event, and scientific success. Parents of both Daniella and Daniel were soon encircled by correspondents of different newspapers. None of them wanted to give any information, before the babies arrived on Earth and they sowed them themselves. 

The whole family of Daniella Janssen Edwards and Daniel Edwards, including new born babies named Svemir and Venera, had to stay a certain length of time in space, before doctors concluded their readiness for flight and astronauts prepared the ship for that mission.

It was Daniella and Daniel’s decision to give babies such names, which in Slavic languages mean: Svemir has a meaning of Cosmos; The whole world; Universe; and/or The whole Earth, while Venera has a meaning of the planet Venus. They thought that these names would be easy to remember for everybody and related to the universe, where they were born. The fact was only how and if ever these babies will be able to visit their birth place, like most people.

    Days were passing by with the babies and Daniella getting the best care from Dr Anastasia and Dr Natasha. Daniella started to nurse the babies, getting the natural filling of motherhood. She felt proud and her occupation became only the two greatest babies. Her face was shining with happiness. Daniel, too, felt very happy, enjoying looking at babies and Daniella. Their parents, mostly mothers Erika and Una, were almost non-stop on the phone, either with Daniella or Dr Anastasia. All astronauts had a primary task to adjust everything in the ship for the babies. They were doing it very professionally. Responsible staff at all Earth agencies were satisfied with the project, as it was going on, and were giving additional instructions from time to time. 

When everything was prepared, as the procedure requested, astronauts started to prepare for the flight back to the Earth. The ship was attached to the space station, they checked everything that was in proper condition, and then ordered personnel to get ready. Daniella and Daniel dressed themselves in skafanders, while astronauts did that to babies. Before doing that, Daniella had nursed them both first. First went down to the ship Dr Anastasia, then Daniella, Then the astronauts gave them babies, and after went Natasha and Daniel, followed by astronauts who were returning to the ship. Those were Edward and John, Fredric, Pavel and Bob. The others, Chris, Robert, Boris, Akashi and Fritz, remained waving at them through the hatch and watching the ship disappear into the sky. All the world space agencies were informed about the time and place of their landing.

While the ship was getting ready for the return, on the ground there was the greatest preparation for the welcome of the first “Aliens”. Svemir and Venera were considered as the aliens. They were not born on the Earth, so scientifically they have been named as such. 

When leaving the International Space Station the weather was good, with clear sky and sunny skies. The weather on Earth was sunny, without wind and perfect for landing the Shuttle. They were expected to land at the Shuttle Landing Facility John F. Kennedy Space Center in California. It was October 17^th 2044, 10.25 when the Shuttle appeared in the sky. A whole mass of visitors screamed and started to applaud. The most gladdened among visitors were grand moms Erika and Una. The two of them had special bodyguards. TV cameras started to shoot. Officials were standing everyone at their position, ready to do what they were supposed to do. The Shuttle touched down exactly at 10.30 am, but it was a long time before the doors were opened. Dr Anastasia and Daniella, who were long in space, were not able to walk. Medical officials helped them by taking them all to the vehicle which took them to the examining center. Only Daniel, who spent a bit more than three weeks last time in space, walked by himself, although with one official who was holding his hand. They all were in skafandras, and from a distance they looked like robots. Two medical officials carried the babies, also in small skafandras, which looked pretty. While all people from space were kept at medical facilities, Erika and Una were kept under top security all the time, even in the hotel where they were accommodated. The next day they were permitted to go to see their grandchildren, but still only from a distance. Their little aliens were out of skafandras and looked gorgeous, moving their heads, looking around. The impression was that they are trying to realize where they were brought. The grandmothers were impatient to be permitted to touch them. Both Svemir and Venera looked like each other, just like an egg to an egg. Daniella was near them all the time, waving to the moms, with a smile.

  It took a week for Daniel and Daniella with babies to stay in quarantine under detailed medical checks, before they were released. Finally, they met with two grandmas, who were delighted to have such beautiful grandchildren, and jokingly called “Aliens”. They all went to Ottawa, under undercover protection. With them went both doctors Anastasia and Natasha, who officially had to stay with Daniella at least a couple of weeks, helping her and supervising the babies. Daniella’s decision was to stay at their home, preferably, instead of the Canadian Space Agency. Erika and Una helped Daniella with everything at home, preparing meals, taking care of cleaning, and shopping for groceries. Daniel soon started to work. His colleagues and managers were interested in detailed information about traveling into space, but the female staff was more interested in the babies. For the first two days he hadn’t done any of his work. He even visited Daniella’s department and informed them about everything too. On his second day at the office, he gave a lecture, and almost everybody from the NRC attended it. They were proud about their members of staff who became internationally known, representing Canada all over the world. When Daniel mentioned that journalists called babies by the nick-name “Aliens” they laughed at that and accepted it too. At home Daniella was nursing the babies well, and Dr Anastasia was satisfied, she reported it daily to the Canadian Space Agency and after twenty days left them. She instructed Daniella what to do in any case, and to contact her any time 24 hours daily. Their house was continually under undercover control, as well as they were wherever they had to go. They knew that but didn’t complain.      

When they arrived at their home other family members had already been waiting to see the new members of the family. Akan was very excited to have such a beautiful nephew and niece. When Dr Anastasia and Natasha left them, Erika and Una agreed to stay with Daniella on shifts every two weeks. It was the middle of November, and in Ottawa it was still sufficiently nice weather with some red lives on trees and not too cold. The babies still hadn’t started to go out, but the area where their house was built was clean, safe and not overcrowded with houses. Erika was taking good care of babies, doing most of the things at home and was of a great help to Daniella. Daniella had a maternity leave of one year, but Daniel was working regularly. He was forced to give many lectures throughout the country, and he had baby’s pictures to show.

Regular contact was kept with Dr Anastasia, while Natasha had to return to Moscow. Dr Anastasia even used to visit Daniella and babies every two weeks, and kept recording her findings. The babies were growing well, and gaining weight as expected. When winter arrived, and snow covered areas, everything became white.  Daniella and Erika were taking the babies out for walks and the babies slept peacefully.  

Re-adapting to Earth’s gravity is hard because people’s muscles and bones have weakened, and the heart has to work much harder to pump blood around the body. Even those who fly back in the Shuttle often feel lightheaded. Some may faint. They also have trouble standing up, walking, turning corners and keeping a sense of balance. If they close their eyes, they are likely to fall over. Even sleeping can be difficult. It can take three to four days to readjust after short flights, but four weeks or more after a six-month stay on the International Space Station. Other side-effects take much longer to overcome. The decrease in bone density results in a greater chance of broken bones. The weakened muscles make it harder to lift even light objects or perform everyday activities. However, the wonders of space travel are hard to resist. While in space, the heart becomes smaller, blood volume has decreased. Blood flows down into the legs within the circulation system. Because there is less blood volume, this results in a shortage of blood to the head and upper body. The brain also gets used to receiving less blood while in space. Once back in Earth-normal gravity, these sensors seem to result in dizziness.  Over a few days, the brain regains its useful communication with the circulatory system. Over additional time, the immune system returns to normal. However, the muscles and bones are still weak. While in space people lose up to 1.5% of their bone mass for each month spent in space. Most of that mass is regained over time. Full bone recovery is achieved between 6 months and 3 years of returning to Earth, for longer durations in space.

Daniella was more influenced than Daniel, as she was in space for over ten months, and she needed a longer time for her full recovery, although she said that she felt well. The babies were born in space and spent only three weeks in space, so their accomodation was relatively fast and efficient. 

 It will be continued

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