Astronauts have been residing on the Worldwide Area Station for greater than 20 years — consuming, sleeping, showering, and utilizing the bathroom as their our bodies float round in microgravity.
Life on the station, which orbits 400 km above Earth, might be no totally different for Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi throughout his six-month keep.
The 41-year-old will embark on his first house mission on Feb. 26, bringing with him conventional Emirati meals, images of his household, the UAE flag and different private gadgets to make his atmosphere much less unique.
However there might be many new issues the astronaut should get used to — together with consuming espresso constructed from processed and filtered urine and sweat.
Astronauts through the years have documented these every day routines to point out the general public what life is like of their orbiting science lab.
The apparent query – is there a bathroom?
The newest high-tech rest room, value $23 million, might be put in on the Worldwide Area Station in 2020.
It’s believed to be the costliest rest room ever assembled, surpassing a $19 million request by NASA in 2007.
Referred to as the Common Waste Administration System (UWMS), the titanium rest room makes use of airflow to tug urine and stool away from the physique into separate containers.
A brand new characteristic is that the airflow begins mechanically as quickly because the lid is lifted, which additionally helps with odor management.
It additionally options wear-resistant elements and a complicated design that requires much less time to scrub and keep.
Which means astronauts spend much less time on plumbing to concentrate on different duties.
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Astronauts use a funnel and hose for urine and a stool for bowel actions – each can be utilized on the identical time.
The bathroom has footrests and hand grips that forestall the astronaut from floating away.
Bathroom paper, napkins and gloves are disposed of in watertight baggage.
Stable waste is stored in particular person baggage. Most of those are loaded onto a cargo ship and burned on re-entry by way of Earth’s ambiance, however some are despatched again for analysis.
The liquid is processed and filtered for consumption.
Water is heavy and cupboard space is proscribed on the Worldwide Area Station, so astronauts need to recycle nearly the whole lot, together with urine and sweat.
Evidently Dr. Al Neyadi has the whole lot he wants within the toilet aside from the bidet.
Preserve it clear
Water would not circulation in a zero-gravity atmosphere, so astronauts bathe and brush their tooth in another way.
Which means putting in a bathe, faucet, or sink on the ISS wouldn’t be possible as a result of the water would float away in droplets.
As a substitute, Dr. Al Neyadi will use a moist washcloth containing physique lotion to scrub himself.
To scrub his hair, he should apply shampoo with out water and wipe it dry with a towel.
To brush his tooth, he can squeeze small quantities of water by way of a straw to rinse after which swallow.
Extra than simply freeze-dried meals
Meals on the Worldwide Area Station have improved through the years, because of a brand new oven put in two years in the past.
The astronauts baked biscuits and used station-grown greens as a part of their weight loss plan.
However they largely eat dried meals which can be saved in packages. They add water to it or warmth it within the oven, so it’s prepared for consumption.
There are some ready-to-eat gadgets, together with fruit, bread, and nuts.
Dr. Al Neyadi has but to disclose what his menu will embody, however there might be some conventional Emirati delicacies.
Throughout Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori’s flight in 2019, he took balaleet (an Emirati breakfast staple of sweetened vermicelli served with an omelette on high), salona (hen stew) and madrooba (a scrumptious thick oatmeal).
Astronauts in house generally have “meals events” in house generally, particularly throughout holidays resembling Thanksgiving, Christmas, or birthdays.
He was in nice form
Exercising day-after-day for 2 hours is obligatory for astronauts to scale back the consequences of zero gravity on their muscle groups and bones.
However they have to use harnesses to forestall themselves from floating away.
They do loads of weight coaching with resistance train gear, together with vacuum rollers that assist simulate precise weights used on the ground.
On the treadmill, astronauts use rubber straps to stabilize their our bodies as they run.
In addition they use an accelerometer – a bicycle with out wheels.
Dr. Al Neyadi is a health fanatic, having educated in jiu-jitsu for a few years, and he takes his jiu-jitsu go well with with him to house.
An excellent evening’s sleep
Dr. Al Neyadi should confine himself to a small sleeping pod or sleeping bag to forestall himself from floating away.
Astronauts up to now have additionally complained of an excessive amount of noise on the Worldwide Area Station, together with the sound of air con followers and equipment, in order that they use earplugs.
Lengthy distance relationships
Dr. Al Neyadi is on a long-term task, however will have the ability to talk together with his household.
There are laptops with web entry on the Worldwide Area Station and astronauts can have voice and video calls with their family members.
Nevertheless, they need to notify the mission controller first, to allow them to direct the satellite tv for pc for the decision.
Which means members of the family can’t contact Dr. Al Neyadi on their very own, because the satellite tv for pc could also be out of vary.
Up to date: February 1, 2023, 4:25 a.m