“In an Astronaut’s Shoes”: Maxim Behar and His Wife Attend a Training Course at NASA

Bulgaria ON Air Inteview

Maria: PR expert Maxim Behar and his wife Veneta went through an intensive training course at NASA.

Viktor: What did they learn, and are they ready for the challenges of upcoming space tourism journeys? Maxim Behar should already be with us, but Maria, I don’t see him. Maybe he stayed with Veneta at the training.

Maria: I don’t see him either.

Viktor: He was supposed to be here to visit us, especially to appear first on our show. I don’t know where Mr. Behar is.

Maxim: Here I am.

Maria: We’re very glad. Hello!

Maxim: Good morning!

Viktor: Good morning! Live from the training center, we see you in such an impressive outfit.

Maxim: Almost, almost. Good Saturday morning. I’ve come with a banana. I’ll tell you about it. I’m very glad that we’re together.

Viktor: Thank you for coming to us first to share your story.

Maxim: Thank you for the invitation. You know, your show is truly one of my favorites, especially on Saturday mornings, when we need to bring a little freshness into several million Bulgarian homes. We’re arriving together with my wife from Huntsville, Alabama. This is the astronaut training center — the largest and the only one in America. All American and international astronauts train there before flying into space. Twenty-one people who completed the course we completed later became real astronauts. In other words, they were discovered during the course itself, and their photos are displayed everywhere.

Viktor: Have you already received an offer to become the next astronaut?

Maxim: Not yet. It’s a very interesting idea because I became very passionate about this topic. When we arrived one afternoon, we immediately had training and a briefing on what to do and how to do it. At the first dinner, one of the vice presidents of the space center said as she entered, “These will be the most interesting days of your life.” She was absolutely right. These were the most interesting days I have ever had.

Maria: We’re seeing footage now — we’re getting a glimpse.

Viktor: Yes, we can see it was real training and a real challenge.

Maxim: What we went through in about ten days is actually real astronaut training. The only difference is that astronauts train for one, two, or three years every single day so that there is absolutely no room for error in space. A mistake in space doesn’t just cost a lot — it cannot be afforded at all, because we all know what can happen. We went through a lot of theory and practice, many physical exercises, scuba diving where we experienced zero gravity, and all the possible situations that can happen in space. We spent a whole day on a Mars mission simulation, which was very tiring because it was at the end of the program. We conducted chemical experiments. We spent one day inside a space station and another day at mission control, operating the station. There are many, many extremely complex things that we can hardly imagine. They’re not necessarily physically demanding, but they require instant reactions and quick thinking. You must know exactly which button is where and have learned everything thoroughly. I’m full of energy.

Maria: We can see that you’re very enthusiastic about everything you experienced there. But tell us about the suit you’re wearing now.

Maxim: These are the suits they give us upon arrival. We have identifying badges. Everyone knows everyone’s name. We were 15 people. This training is held specifically at the Huntsville, Alabama base and takes place only once a year. The largest space museum in the world is located there. Every day there are groups of children, students, and families visiting. There are special summer programs for children lasting one, two, or three days. But this program, called Advanced Adult Training, takes place only once a year for 15 people. Veneta and I were the only non-Americans. We met fantastic people. We created a WhatsApp group, we talk every day, we exchange photos. But most importantly, the program was somewhat ascetic, because we lived in small rooms where the beds had no mattresses — just plain wood.

Viktor: Maybe to make it closer to the real situation you might face.

Maxim: Probably, yes. There were eight beds in each room, arranged in bunk beds, and no windows where we slept. On the first day, when they gave us the schedule — I had been asking for it the whole time because I wanted to know what we would be doing — they told us, “You’ll receive the program when you arrive. We don’t send programs to anyone.”

Viktor: So no one decides to quit beforehand, probably.

Maxim: Maybe. Or maybe so no one spreads it — I don’t know. When we opened it, I said to myself, “Wait, this can’t be possible. 6:00 p.m. dinner, 7:00 p.m. final session reviewing the day, and 8:00 p.m. everyone in bed.”

Maria: A strict regime, Mr. Behar.

Maxim: Yes. 8:00 p.m. is usually the time I leave my office. But we followed the schedule. We woke up at 6:00 a.m. At around 7:00 we gathered for our first coffee, and then we went to breakfast. Every morning we had breakfast with people they called “associate professors.” That was their official title — it said “Associate Professor” on their badges. They were retired NASA engineers and software specialists, all over 80 years old. They shared incredible stories about Apollo, Challenger, the Space Shuttle program, and Discovery. All of them had participated in preparing astronauts and spacecraft. After that, we followed the daily program. On the last day, we even flew an F-16 simulator — the same aircraft that Bulgaria has ordered and is still waiting to receive the rest of.

Viktor: We’re still waiting for a few more. Maybe you can bring some back if necessary.

Maxim: On the last day, we operated a full F-16 simulator with all the real electronics and control panels. We even competed with our colleagues. It was fantastic. You know me — I like to do things that take me out of my comfort zone. Veneta and I walked the Camino. We wrote a book about it. I also sang with Misho Shamara. We’ve presented our songs here many times.

Viktor: Maybe you’ll create a space song next.

Maxim: I haven’t thought about that yet, but stepping outside your comfort zone is extremely healthy. In December, when I celebrated my birthday, my children and I gathered to discuss my present. I told them, “Please, I don’t want any gifts.” I even wrote that in the party invitation. Don’t bring wine, paintings, whiskey sets, cigar cutters, or typical gifts. If you want to help me, support me in going to the space base in Alabama for training. Here’s a QR code. That’s how I decided to do it — because it was an incredibly interesting challenge, and we completed it successfully. Two days ago, we had our graduation ceremony. It was very emotional — American-style, with a stage, podium, names, and praise. And now I believe it’s time for a Bulgarian astronaut. You know about our Hello Space project at the Atlantic Club. Mr. Passy and his team supported us greatly. In July, at the sixth edition of Hello Space in Sofia, I can’t wait to share our experience with students, along with photos and videos. I was often asked why I chose this challenge. There are a million challenges in Sofia — you can just walk down a street full of potholes. But this is connected to space and the future. I want people watching us to say, “If Maxim can do it, I can too.” That’s my message to young people — students and university students — you can do it.

Maria: Mr. Behar, which of your expectations before leaving for the course did not match what you saw there?

Maxim: Not a single one. Everything in Huntsville exceeded my expectations. It was ten times more — in atmosphere, experience, conversations, teamwork, and challenges. You must be extremely prepared to enter a space station. For example, before our Mars mission simulation, we had six hours of preparation the previous day. We received detailed briefings in large folders. I don’t know whether they use those exact folders in real missions, but I believe they do — because a folder cannot burn out like a screen or system failure. You carry it with you.

Viktor: Analog still remains. But since we’re nearing the end, two things interest me: what does zero-gravity simulation feel like, and why the banana?

Maxim: I’ll tell you. At the training center in Huntsville, there is the grave of Miss Baker, the first monkey to fly into space in 1959 for 16 minutes aboard a Jupiter rocket. Another monkey died four days later. The purpose was to monitor her biological parameters because there had not yet been a human in space. She returned safely and lived until 1984. There is a tradition: everyone entering the center leaves a banana at her grave, which is near the entrance. We didn’t know this, but we immediately bought a banana and left it there.

However, during simulations, “banana” also has another meaning. When you have a problem, you must say “banana” first, and then state the problem. It’s a key word. We used it often. On the final Mars simulation day, I received instructions to fall and say my arm was broken, then immediately say, “Banana, I have a problem, my arm is broken,” so my colleagues could respond and help.

Viktor: “Banana, the tulips fell.”

Maxim: These flowers are probably already in zero gravity.

Maria: Exactly. What is your next challenge?

Maxim: I don’t know yet. But I’m sure there will be more. If Veneta and I can do this and feel so inspired and energized, I wish every young person in Bulgaria could try something like this. I hope we will soon see a Bulgarian astronaut in an American space program. I would be happy to meet students and share everything we experienced. There’s nothing scary about it. It’s inspiring, challenging, and space is the future.

Viktor: Let’s follow our dreams. Thank you, Mr. Behar, for your positivity.

Maria: Now we’re inspired too. Maybe one day it will happen to us.

Maxim: I’ll be waiting to meet you after your return.

Viktor: Banana — our time is up. That’s the problem. Until next time.

Maria: Bulgaria Morning continues.

The whole video watch here: https://www.maximbehar.com/bg/video/429/bulgaria-on-air-v-obuvkite-na-astronavta