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The desk phone rings and I answer it. There is a long pause with noise in the background. It sort of sounds like someone calling from a very busy street. After a moment I hear a familiar voice – Suni Williams. On the space station! Yes, she is calling to talk using the Internet Protocol (IP) phone. This is a modern convenience the early astronauts did not have. When we have the high bandwidth Ku radio link, the crew members can connect one of their laptops to systems at NASA to make a call. It works just like the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) systems that people are using more and more these days. It is a real psychological boost for the crew. If they have 5 minutes in their busy schedule, the crew members can call a friend or spouse. While we set up dedicated private meetings each week, sometimes it is nice to just call and hear a friendly voice.

We chat for a minute, making some jokes. Suni is laughing hard, like she does a lot. She is clearly having fun and enjoying her work up there. Before I know it, the link goes dead as the ISS goes out of communication with the relay satellite.

I work with space walks and amazing rocket launches. It still amazes me though when I get a phone call. From the space station!

- Bob Dempsey, Expedition 15 Lead Flight Director