Megan McArthur: A NASA astronaut's lessons on fear, confidence and preparing for spaceflight | TED

翻译人员: Ruimian Zheng 校对人员: Yanyan Hong

Pat Mitchell: Welcome, Megan.

帕特·米歇尔（Pat Mitchell）： 欢迎，梅根。

Megan McArthur: Hello, Pat, thank you for having me.

梅根·麦克阿瑟（Megan McArthur）： 你好，帕特，谢谢你的邀请。

PM: Let's go with the question that I think is probably coming up

帕：让我们先讨论一个我认为

for many of us.

很多人关注的问题。

This is unusual.

这件事很特别。

Husband and wife,

夫妻二人，

met during your training,

在训练中相识，

and in the year that you got married,

并且在你们结婚的那年，

you both flew into space, separately.

两人各自飞入太空。

You, on the Hubble Telescope mission

你执行哈勃望远镜的任务，

and Bob on the mission to construct the space station.

而鲍勃负责建造空间站的任务。

And ironically, if your mission had gone awry or needed help,

有意思的是，如果你的使命 出了差错或需要帮助，

Bob was assigned to be on the rescue craft.

被指派到救援船上会是鲍勃。

You know, launch day is for all of us a time of great excitement, yes.

发射日对我们所有人来说 都是十分兴奋的，没错，

But also anxieties about the risk and the fear we might feel inside

不过仅是在旁观的我们， 面对风险，内心可能也会充满

just watching.

担忧和恐惧。

How do you prepare for launch day?

你是如何为发射日做准备的？

MMA: Well, Pat, one of the most important things to focus on for me

梅：嗯，帕特，对我来说， 我所最需要关注的，

was really preparing my son and making sure that he was ready

是帮助并确保我儿子做好准备，

and that he enjoyed the experience of watching his father launch

能享受地观看他父亲进入太空，

and complete this mission that he'd been training for,

并完成这个在我们儿子 出生后大部分时间里

really for most of our son's life.

他都在为之训练的任务。

So when we walked out onto the roof of the launch control center

当我们走上发射控制中心的屋顶，

and we could see the rocket off in the distance

可以看到在远处的火箭，

and were lining up against the rail,

我们靠着栏杆，

ready for the countdown,

准备倒计时，

and of course, I got my arms around him

当然，我用胳膊搂住他，

and we hear, "Three, two, one, liftoff."

我们听到，“三，二，一，发射。”

And then we see the rocket carrying his father

接着，我们看到火箭载着他父亲，

you know, jumping off the launch pad.

你知道，从发射台上弹射出去。

And for me,

对我来说，

it was this moment of just an outpouring of feeling and emotion

在那个时刻， 我长时间以来的感情和情绪

that had been with me for such a long time.

全都喷涌而出。

And I'm crying and I'm laughing and I'm just shaking.

我又哭又笑，我在颤抖。

And so I had to let go of my son, who was fine, by the way,

所以我得放开我儿子， 他没事，顺便说一下，

he was completely fine.

他完全没有事。

And I’m covering up my mouth

我捂住了嘴，

because I don't know what kind of sounds I'm going to make

因为我不知道我会发出什么样的声音，

with this complete terror and this complete joy

当彻底的恐惧和彻底的喜悦

at this moment.

混杂在同一时刻。

And thinking about what it took to get there.

想想花了多少努力才达到那一刻。

My husband, you know, an accomplished astronaut,

我丈夫，你知道， 是一位有成就的宇航员，

an experienced Air Force flight test engineer,

一位有经验的空军飞行测试工程师，

he had formerly been the chief astronaut.

他曾任首席宇航员。

And I've watched him launch into space twice before.

我以前两次看过他发射进入太空。

And it's been terrifying every time.

每一次都很可怕。

Why is that?

为什么会怎样？

You know, of course, I love my husband, but it's more than that.

你知道，我当然爱我丈夫， 但不仅仅是如此。

It's that I love my husband,

是因为我爱我丈夫，

and right now I can't do anything at all to impact the situation.

而我无法做任何事来影响现场情况。

I'm standing on a rooftop.

我站在屋顶上。

I have no job.

我没有职务，

I have no way to contribute.

我没有办法去帮忙。

And so that's where for me the fear comes from

对我来说，我恐惧的来源

is that feeling of helplessness.

是那种无能为力的感觉。

And so, over and over in my life, I've seen, of course,

所以，在我一生里， 我一次又一次地看到，当然，

that training and preparation can get us ready for an event like that,

训练和准备可以让我们 为这样的事件做好准备，

but it's having the input,

但是只有能出力，

having the ability to impact your situation

有能力影响你的状况，

that is what removes the fear and balances it for you.

才能消除和平衡你的恐惧。

So the education, the experience, you have to have that,

所以那些训练和经验是必需的，

but also having a voice, having an input,

但同时也要有发言权，要能参与，

having a seat in the cockpit

在驾驶舱里有一席之地，

is what allows you to leave that fear behind.

才能把恐惧抛在脑后。

PM: But what about your son, Megan?

帕：可是你的儿子怎么办，梅根？

He won't be there.

他不会在那里。

He'll be on the ground watching mommy take off into space

他会在地面看着妈妈飞向太空，

just as he watched his dad who returned safely.

就像他看着平安归来的爸爸。

But have you taken special preparations for him to see mommy doing the same?

不过，你有没有做特别的准备， 让他看着妈妈以同样的方式飞向太空?

MMA: Well, his first reaction

梅：嗯，他的第一反应，

when learning that mommy was going to go into space

当他知道妈妈也要飞入太空时，

first, he told me, "No, mommy, you can't go."

他一开始说：“不行， 妈妈，你不能去。”

That was his very first response.

那是他的第一反应。

And then as he got more comfortable with the idea,

然后，他渐渐接受了这件事，

you know, his dad went up and came back

你知道，他爸爸升空又回来了，

and then he said, "Well, OK, you can go for 30 days,

他就说，“好吧，你可以去 30 天，

but 180 days, that's too much.

但是 180 天，太久了。

You can’t, you can’t go for that long.”

不行，你不能去那么久。”

He's also obviously seen his father go through all of this.

他显然也看到过他父亲经历这些。

And so for him, it's become this normal thing.

所以对他来说，这已经 成为一件再正常不过的事了。

This is a normal thing that mommy and daddy do.

这是爸爸妈妈的日常工作， 很正常的事。

We'll read stories back and forth while I'm here in Russia

当我在俄罗斯这边的时候， 我们会通过视频通话，

over video conference.

一起反复读故事。

And I was given the idea to fill a jar with chocolate kisses

而且我有了个好主意， 装了一罐子的好时之吻巧克力，

and then he can have a kiss from mommy every day that I'm gone.

这样，我不在的时候， 他每天还能得到一个妈妈的吻，

So he likes that idea very much.

他也很喜欢这个主意。

PM: Well, just to be clear,

帕：嗯，我要说一下，

it's a great message that this young man is getting

让这个小伙子知道 爸爸妈妈做的是同样的工作

about mommy and daddy doing the same job, isn't it?

是一件特别好的事情，不是吗？

And I just want to bring forward a quote

所以我想引用一句 太空探索技术公司（SpaceX）领导人

from the SpaceX leader Gwynne Shotwell,

格温·肖特维尔（Gwynne Shotwell）说的话，

who was asked about your going, and your husband's going,

有人问她你的航天之旅， 还有你丈夫的旅程，

and she was questioned about your flying

问的是关于你飞行所乘坐的

in the same pilot seat or spacecraft as your husband.

和你丈夫是同一个驾驶座或飞船。

And here was part of her answer:

下面是她的提到的：

"I'd like to point out that, you know,

“我想指出，你知道，

Megan is first and foremost

在我们眼中的梅根

an astronaut when it comes to our perspective."

首先是一名一流的宇航员。”

MMA: Well, I did want to reach through the screen

梅根：嗯，当格温女士这么说的时候，

and high-five Ms. Shotwell when she said that,

我真的很想穿过屏幕和她击掌，

I very much appreciated that remark.

我非常感激她的评价。

You know, it has changed for me over the years,

你知道，这些年来， 航空对我来说也不一样了，

the first time I flew in space

我第一次飞上太空的时候，

I was married, but I was not yet a parent.

我已经结婚，但我还没为人父母。

And both my husband and I came to NASA as single people

我和我丈夫都是单身来到 美国国家航空航天局，

and we met and married, of course, at NASA.

我们是在这里相识并结婚的。

It's a different thing to take on as a family

作为一个家庭来说，这是另一回事，

that you're doing this thing that's for yourself.

因为你航天是为了自己，

It's also kind of for the greater good.

不过也是为了更伟大的事业。

The notion of exploration and discovery is something to engage in.

一种理念、 探索和发现是值得参与的。

And I think that that example,

我觉得我们的例子，

you know, for my son to see

你知道，让我儿子看到，

that his parents are engaged in this thing,

他的父母都有参与探索和发现，

that, yes, it takes us away from him,

确实，这样让我们和他分离，

but these are important things to do.

但我们所做的是很重要的事。

PM: And you were in high school, Megan,

帕：你当时在上高中，梅根，

when the Challenger spacecraft tragically exploded

当挑战者号飞船不幸爆炸，

and the whole world confronted the realities of the risk

整个世界都在面对这种风险的现实，

that you and your husband

这种你和你的丈夫，

and other brave women and men are taking.

以及其他勇敢的人所冒的风险。

I remember that moment

我还记得那一刻，

and I still hold my breath every time during each and every launch.

每一次发射，我都还屏住呼吸。

So how do you find the balance between knowing the risks are real

那你怎么平衡知道风险的真实存在，

and you're feeling prepared enough to do what you have to do

和觉得你已经准备好 去执行你得完成

and what you want to accomplish?

而且也想完成的任务?

MMA: Well, the crux of it for us for feeling prepared and participating

梅：嗯，对我们来说， 做好准备和执行的关键

is really training.

在于训练。

So we train our way into that seat.

我们通过训练才坐上驾驶座的。

You spend literally hundreds of hours preparing in every possible way.

为了做好方方面面的准备， 得花上几百个小时。

We break down every system into bite-sized pieces, basically.

我们基本把每个系统都拆解成小块。

We have these wonderful instructors

我们有优秀的指导员，

who are professional instructors, basically,

他们都是专业的，

and they know exactly what it's going to take for us

他们很清楚我们要怎样才能

to learn these systems inside and out.

把这些系统都里里外外地学透。

And so, sort of, one system at a time,

就这样，一次一个系统地学，

and then they put all the systems together

然后，他们把所有系统放在一起，

and then they break every possible thing that they can think of to break

把所有能拆解的东西都拆掉，

so that you have to, as a team, as a crew,

这样作为一个团队，一个机组，

solve these problems and work together to get through the situation.

你们要解决这些问题， 合作共度难关。

And the reason that they do that

他们这么做的原因

is not because they think those exact things are going to happen.

不是因为那些事真的会发生。

It's to build you up.

目的是要增强你的信心。

You prove to yourself that you have the ability to work

你向自己证明，你有能力，

when maybe some really terrible things are happening

如果有很糟糕的情况发生，

and to make your situation better.

你能改善你的处境。

And the thing that's going to happen

而且发生的事情

isn't necessarily going to be the specific one

也不完全就是训练中那一个，

or even hundred different scenarios that they've shown you.

甚至不是训练中看过的 几百种不同情况之一。

But you have worked and you have developed your skills

但你已经开发和锻炼了你的能力，

which will support you to kind of tackle any problem that you might have,

这些技能让你可以解决 任何可能碰到的问题，

not just as a crew in the ship,

不仅学会与舱内机组合作，

but now you've worked with the whole team on the ground,

你也学会了和地面的整个团队协调，

and you know you're going to be able to solve those situations

所以你知道你有能力团队合作，

working together.

处理好那些状况。

PM: Has there ever been a time when you felt fear,

帕：你有没有感到过害怕，

real fear or maybe just being unprepared?

真正的恐惧， 或者就是措手不及？

MMA: A couple of years ago, I had the, I'll say opportunity,

梅：几年前，我有一个， 算是机会吧，

but I had the situation where I was "voluntold"

当时，我被指定

to take an assistant directorship job.

去接受一份助理主管的工作。

And it was something I was very reluctant to do,

这份工作我做得十分勉强，

I didn't feel prepared for it,

我觉得我没有足够的准备，

I didn't feel like I had the right skill set,

我觉得我没有合适的技能，

and I didn't feel like I was going to be good at it.

我不觉得我能把这份工作做好。

And none of those are good feelings.

这些感觉一点都不好。

There's a part in your book, Pat, where you say,

你的书里有一段， 帕特，你写道：

"I realized at some point that being ready

“在某个时刻，我意识到， 所谓准备好了，

could mean being ready to learn quickly while doing."

可能意味着准备好 一边实践，一边快速学习。”

And, you know, that expression,

你知道吗，这句话

that's exactly what it means to be an astronaut.

正是做宇航员所需的。

I know how to do that.

我知道怎么做。

I can learn on the job, I can learn quickly.

我可以在工作中学习， 可以快速地学习。

And so I did dive into this job

所以我便投入了这份工作，

and I did learn quickly while on the job.

而我也确实能够一边工作， 一边快速地学习。

I can't say that I was the best person ever to hold that job,

也许我不是这份工作的最佳人选，

but it was important to me to do my very best

但是对我来说， 重要的是，我竭尽所能

and to be part of this new team.

并且成为了这个新团队的一员。

Women are particularly prone to this where we think,

女性尤其容易这样想：

"Oh, I haven't had training for that, I haven't had a job like that before.

“哦，我没有接受过这方面的培训， 我从未做过这样的工作。

I can't do it."

我做不来。”

But you can do it.

但其实，你可以做好。

You take all of the skills that you've developed

你利用你所掌握的所有技能，

and all of the other things that you're doing,

还有你正在做的其他事情，

and you use those to support you while you're learning quickly while doing.

让它们帮助你 一边实践，一边快速学习。

PM: Such good advice, Megan,

帕：这个建议真是非常好，梅根，

I won't be learning by doing flying into space,

我不会一边学，一边飞入太空，

but taking that knowledge that we can learn by doing

但我们要知道 我们能一边实践，一边学习，

and we can be prepared, so important.

我们能做好准备，这很重要。

How would you describe the changes in you personally

能不能描述一下，离开地球

from being off this Earth?

对你个人产生了什么样的变化？

MMA: But in the very beginning, when I first launched into space,

梅：一开始， 当我刚刚进入太空时，

you're very busy, you know,

会很忙，你知道，

on this spaceship that's just gone through a launch sequence

在这艘刚刚经历了发射的飞船上，

and you have to turn your spaceship into an orbiting platform.

你得把飞船变成一个轨道平台。

And so you're very busy.

所以，你会非常忙。

So we have these books and we're heads down in the books

我们埋头在我们的手册里，

and we're going through all the steps and moving switches

我们要按照步骤，操作开关，

and loading computer programs.

还要加载电脑程序。

And I only had a brief moment of time to kind of look out the window

我只有很短的时间稍微看看窗外，

and say, yep, that's where the Earth is, that's exactly where it should be,

我看了看，没错，地球在那里， 在它该在的地方，

and that's how it's looked in all of the pictures I've seen growing up.

就像我从小在照片上看到的样子。

And I got right back to work.

然后我就又回去工作了。

And so it wasn't until I had more of an opportunity

我一直没有更多机会

to gaze out the window for a while

好好盯着窗外看一看，

while I was operating the robotic arm that I could really observe the Earth.

直到我在操作机械臂的时候， 我才能真正观察地球。

I remember so clearly the first time I saw a lightning storm

我清楚地记得 我第一次看到闪电风暴，

across a huge expanse of the ocean

它穿过一片广阔的海洋，

and the lightning, it appeared in different colors,

那个闪电，它有不同的颜色，

and it lights up the inside of the clouds

把整个云层里面都照亮，

and it makes this kind of, you know, dramatic pattern.

形成了这种，你知道，夸张的图案。

It was like having your own laser light show laid out below you.

那底下就像是你自己的激光秀。

And the realization struck me that this is not static.

我突然意识到这一切不是静止的。

This is not a photo.

这不是照片。

This is our Earth, it's a real living system.

这是我们的地球， 它是一个真正的生态系统。

It's hard to describe how impossibly thin it looks to you

很难描述这么看起来， 地球是多么脆弱，

with the vast blackness of space on one side

一边是一片漆黑太空，

and our beautiful Earth on the other side

另一边是我们美丽的地球，

and this just incredibly thin layer of atmosphere

而这一层极其稀薄的大气层

that's all that's keeping us and all of us alive

维持了我们、我们所有人的生命，

and every life form on Earth,

还有地球上每一种生命形式，

that's all that's keeping us alive.

我们全都靠着它存活。

And it's a very visceral reaction,

所以会有一种发自肺腑的反应，

this very strong urge to want to protect

这种强烈的愿望要去保护

the Spaceship Earth that we're all you know,

我们的“地球”号宇宙飞船，你知道，

you and I are both crew members here,

你我都是船上的组员，

and, you know, we've all got to work together

你知道，我们要齐心协力，

to take care of this ship that we're moving on

照顾这艘我们乘坐的船，

through the universe.

在宇宙中航行。

So it was a very powerful response to seeing that.

所以看到这一幕， 给我了一个非常强烈的震撼。

PM: Thank you for your work, Megan.

帕：谢谢你的贡献，梅根。

And what do you say, "Safe flight?"

你们怎么说，“一路顺风”？

Is there ...?

有没有……？

MMA: We say Godspeed

梅：我们会说一路平安，

or we say ad astra -- to the stars.

或者我们说 ad astra —— 朝着星星前进。

PM: Ad astra, to the stars, Godspeed, Megan McArthur.

帕：Ad astra，朝着星星前进， 一路平安，梅根·麦克阿瑟。

Thank you.

谢谢你。

MMA: Thank you so much, Pat.

梅：非常感谢你，帕特。