Brother of Atlantis astronaut keeps eye on mission
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Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News South Bureau
"That's a pretty above average view I got right now," said astronaut Joe Tanner from the third and final spacewalk of the Atlantis mission. He and astronaut Heide Piper worked on the International Space Station's new radiator Friday. With this final spacewalk a success, the shuttle undocks from the space station on Sunday.
Astronaut Joe Tanner's twin brother lives in Bloomington, and spoke to Eyewitness News about his high-flying brother on the international space station.
No one was more thrilled to watch Atlantis lift off than David Tanner. The shuttle carried precious cargo: David's twin brother, astronaut Joe Tanner.
"When it's your brother on there, it's equal parts pride in what he's doing, you're so proud of him, and then love for your brother, your family member, and then fear...that something might happen," said Tanner.
Atlantis is Joe Tanner's seventh space walk. In Bloomington, David's spent the past few days watching the mission's every move through his brother's eyes. "He's describing what he's doing and what you're seeing is what he sees," said David.
David reassured his twin with an email when Joe lost a bolt in space. "And said you know, 'I wouldn't worry about that bolt because just now I was walking outside and something hit me on the head and by golly if it wasn't that bolt!'" he laughed.
Growing up in NASA's golden age, both brothers dreamed of space travel. They watched the first moon landing, together, at IU. "And both of us were dead silent. Didn't say a word...both thinking, gosh, I'd sure like to do that," David said.
While Joe joined NASA, David stayed on the ground, prevented from flying by less than perfect vision. "So if they would have changed the rules earlier, we may be on this mission together, and that would have been a sight," he said.
Instead, David coaches swimming and studies science underwater while Joe studies outer space. "I think sometimes he'd like to be a high school swimming coach like me and I'd of course love to do what he does."
Still, David remains tethered to his twin, proud of a family dream, fulfilled. "Very much so. I think I'm his biggest fan," said David.
