Interview: Lights out for space station crew

Walz, from left, Onufrienko and Bursch talk turkey with Miles O'Brien.

(CNN) -- What was it like when the computer guidance system shut down on the international space station?

"Let me give you a quick demonstration," offered space station Alpha resident Carl Walz during a video chat with CNN Space Correspondent Miles O'Brien

Instantly, Walz and his crewmates disappeared from the screen, having turned out the lights in order to simulate the mishap earlier this week.

The Monday failure meant the solar panels on the sun-powered ship temporarily did not face the sun, draining the station of precious power.

VIDEO CNN's Miles O'Brien talks with the crew of the International Space Station (February 7) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

The trio shut off virtually all non-essential electrical systems in the sprawling outpost, saving juice until ground controllers in Moscow and Houston could work out a fix.

"I never felt like I was in any danger. Certainly we were turning off lights and trying to help out," piped in Dan Bursch, the other American onboard space station Alpha.

"The problems we had were not related to the age of the equipment. I think it was Murphy's Law and timing," he said.

The two Americans and Alpha skipper Yuri Onufrienko spoke with Miles O'Brien for more than 10 minutes on Thursday. Make sure to watch entire interview to hear some candid talk on topics ranging from the new NASA boss to dwindling space station budgets.