No, he didn't see any aliens in space. Yes, he wants to go to the moon one day. But, most important, he loves his job.
Astronaut Thomas D. Jones spent two hours Friday sharing his space flight experiences and feelings with the students at Harford Day School in Bel Air. It was his sixth school visit in his home state in two days.
His enthusiasm never wavered as he answered a profusion of questions about toilet facilities in spacecraft, weightlessness and space food.
The 39-year-old Essex native, who now lives in Houston, most recently returned from circling the Earth aboard the Endeavour in October. He also was aboard Endeavour in April studying the global environment.
"It's a very beautiful planet," he told the children, who ranged from prekindergarten students to eighth-graders.
Dr. Jones, a planetary scientist, brought slides and a "NASA home movie" to show the students examples of what he'd seen.
The six astronauts in the fall mission took 14,000 photographs, he said. He showed the children fly-bys over Maryland, pointing out the 120-mile-high views of Bel Air, the Chesapeake Bay and Ocean City. "We flew over Baltimore every day," he said.
"I want to be an astronaut when I grow up because I could look down and see the Earth," 5-year-old Lindsey Navin whispered to a visitor during Dr. Jones' presentation.
The trim astronaut, dressed in a royal blue, one-piece flight suit, said he had wanted to be an astronaut since his days at Stemmers Run Middle School in Baltimore County. "I knew I'd like to fly," he said.
Dr. Jones has been one of 110 NASA astronauts since 1991 and has logged more than 269 hours in space.
"I've been working at it for almost 20 years," the former Air Force officer said. "It's the most fun job I've ever had. . . . All the hard work is worth it."
Dr. Jones spent 22 days in space this year, 11 days on each mission. "I was very excited," he said of his first trip. "When I got up there, I had a great time." On his second flight, "I couldn't wait to see the world [from space] again."
He described takeoff to the students as similar to a bumpy ride on a country road and said it was a good feeling to be weightless in space.
He said living on the Endeavour was like being in two minivans stacked on top of each other.
The children also were curious about the spacecraft's bathroom. Dr. Jones told them it was similar to an airplane restroom.
He said that since there was no shower the astronauts bathed with hot water and washclothes, and used "jelly shampoo."
He compared the food on the shuttle with what someone would take on a long camping trip, such as sandwich fixings, yogurt, pudding and cereal. "After 11 days, I was ready for pizza," he said.
Asked what it was like to return to gravity, he said, "I felt very heavy, like I had on a lead suit. It lasted for a few hours."
"It was very interesting," said third-grader Stephen Klein after the program sponsored by the school's Parent Association. "He explained all the questions and answers in full sentences so we would understand."
Dr. Jones also made some converts to his profession. "It would be fun to fly around space," said Owen Jordan, 10.
"I'd like to go in outer space and see what the world looks like," Elizabeth Rogers, 9, added.
But 8-year-old Caitlin Fallon said, "I think it would be hard. You have to work all the switches."
Regardless of their career paths, Dr. Jones encouraged the children to "be a good reader. Read about space. Stay healthy. . . . Keep at it, don't give up. Never forget the dream you've got."