Nimitz Celebrates the Navy’s 245th Birthday with a Call to the International Space Station

ARABIAN GULF

10.13.2020

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Greg Hall  

USS Nimitz (CVN 68)   

ARABIAN GULF – Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and Capt. Chris Cassidy, Commander of the International Space Station (ISS), celebrated the Navy’s 245th birthday via video conference call Oct. 13.
Though the distance between Nimitz and the ISS is vast, Cassidy and the Sailors and Marines of aboard the aircraft carrier have much in common: floating thousands of miles away from home, friends and family, spending holidays away during a deployment that can often last longer than six months, and serving your country in a way that only those you serve with can understand.
The relationship began in 2019 when Cassidy visited Nimitz, July 4, to celebrate Independence Day.
“I met Capt. Cassidy through a mutual friend who is an astronaut and Naval aviator,” said Capt. Matthew Thomas, executive officer of Nimitz. “When Nimitz pulled into San Diego over the 4th of July in 2019, our mutual friend put us in contact with each other. I invited Capt. Cassidy and his family, who were in Coronado visiting, to the ship for a tour and to watch the fireworks from the flight deck that evening.”
“Nothing can make you prouder to be an American than watching the Fourth of July fireworks from the deck of Nimitz,” said Cassidy. “This was exactly the feeling my family and I shared as we were lucky enough to join Nimitz in San Diego Bay in 2019.”
Thomas and Cassidy kept in touch through email as they both started demanding work up cycles to prepare for their respective deployments.
Sailors assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) began a staggered restriction of movement period, April 1, days before Cassidy would launch to the International Space Station, April 9.
“There are many parallels between our deployments and preparations for deployment,” said Thomas. “We both deployed about the same time. He launched in April shortly after we began our ROM [restriction of movement]. We both have completed many noteworthy events; him in space above the globe; us upon the oceans around the globe. He was part of the crew that 'caught' the inaugural Dragon X space capsule visit and shared the ISS with those civilian astronauts for a few weeks; we completed dual carrier operations in 7th Fleet and have been operating in 5th Fleet in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support. On the more mundane side of deployment, we perform a lot of maintenance around Nimitz; Capt. Cassidy spends a lot of his time completing preventative maintenance on the ISS. We enjoy our time to work out; he enjoys his time to work out. Most of all, we are both Sailors serving our Navy and serving our Nation.”
In preparation for the video call, Cassidy relayed a message to Nimitz and the crew who were invited to participate in a question and answer session.
“One year later, I join each of you again, this time deployed, as we celebrated July 4th away from our families,” said Cassidy. “I am truly looking forward to connecting with you and showing you my small ship, which could fit on one of your flight deck elevators! Go Navy and see you soon.”
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Elliott Schaudt, a Nimitz Sailor and avid Star Trek fan, took the opportunity to ask a question during the Q&A.
“It felt like a once in a lifetime experience to communicate with someone whose mission is so imperative to the future of space travel,” said Schaudt.
Lt. Anca Selariu, a microbiologist, also was given a chance to ask Capt. Cassidy a handful of questions. She asked about one-way space travel, and the psychological strain long-term space travel might have on an astronaut.
“I found the experience exhilarating,” said Selariu. “He is an extremely down to earth person, for someone in space. I especially appreciated the reminder that space exploration is an international effort that brings humans together and makes them focus on the things that really matter.”
“My dream is to help humanity get to Mars, as best as I can,” Selariu added. “It has little to do with Mars itself, rather with life’s indelible desire to break another limit. Just imagine watching the first human stepping on Mars! I simply cannot think of anything more amazing. Even though today the idea of a one way trip to Mars is unnerving, I still have a secret hope that the future may hold it as not just a possibility, but a normal part of the lives of future generations. Setting unreasonable goals makes us take big leaps in evolution.”
As the 30 minute call wrapped up, Cassidy and Thomas had one last message for each other, shared between thousands of miles made short through the technology of a video conference call.
“Happy Birthday! Go Navy!”
The Nimitz CSG transited through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Arabian Gulf Sept. 18. Nimitz CSG presence in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), where it has operated since July, demonstrates the U.S. and its regional partners’ commitment to the free flow of commerce, regional maritime security and freedom of navigation.
The U.S. 5th Fleet AOO encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

• Date Taken: 10.13.2020
• Date Posted: 10.14.2020 12:27
• Story ID: 380779
• Location: ARABIAN GULF