
Jerry’s Letter to His Son From Space
Clip: Episode 2 | 1m 34sVideo has Closed Captions
Jerry Linenger shares a letter he wrote to his young son while aboard space station Mir.
After narrowly surviving a life-threatening fire aboard the Russian space station Mir, astronaut Jerry Linenger began writing letters to his young son. In this clip, he reads an emotional passage in which he apologizes for his prolonged absence, revealing the very personal challenges of a life lived in orbit.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback

Jerry’s Letter to His Son From Space
Clip: Episode 2 | 1m 34sVideo has Closed Captions
After narrowly surviving a life-threatening fire aboard the Russian space station Mir, astronaut Jerry Linenger began writing letters to his young son. In this clip, he reads an emotional passage in which he apologizes for his prolonged absence, revealing the very personal challenges of a life lived in orbit.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Did you consider how existence, your existence was tenuous up there?
Yeah, I had many moments where I said, you know, this could be the end of my life.
And that's where I started writing little letters to my son every night.
I love the heck out of you, John, a father's love for his son.
Nothing really unique about it, but that doesn't take away from its depth, sincerity, or unbending nature.
Id do anything for you.
Yet, I've been away from you since January.
Haven't I?
I'm told that when you see my picture, you point to it and say, mommy.
You haven't learned the word daddy yet.
That is my fault.
A pretty good excuse this time for not being with you.
But us fathers are pretty good at excuses.
Work, tired, footballs on TV.
So instead of saying I was in space, let me instead just ask your forgiveness, for times not spent together.
And while I'm at it, mommys to.
Love and miss you both, dad.
The Collision That Sent the Soviet Space Station Tumbling
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Ep2 | 1m 26s | Sasha Lazutkin and Michael Foale recall an out-of-control vessel hitting Mir. (1m 26s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Ep2 | 1m 36s | Sasha Lazutkin and his wife Lyudmila talk about the arrival of American astronauts at Star City. (1m 36s)
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