The reality is that people have been living in space for just over two decades now. Astronauts have been trained to survive on the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth at a rate of 92 times in a matter of only 92 minutes. While the longest they remain on the ISS is only six months, living in space is a completely different - and unique - experience.
Researching is part of their job while they're up there, but that doesn't mean they don't have downtime. Everything, from eating to sleeping, works in a new way. Their living space is fairly expansive and they have access to a gym as well as a 360-degree viewing center, but that doesn't mean it's all fun and games living with zero gravity. It takes quite a lot of getting used to and a stress-free way of thinking... things get pretty strange up in space - do you think you could handle it?
Eating Is... Interesting
Whereas most of us are used to being able to hunker down and dive into a pepperoni pizza without it floating away, that's not the case in space. Although astronauts live in a controlled environment - for the most part - they still need to strap down food trays and even tape ingredients down.
There's nothing like making dinner and trying to catch the salt shaker before it floats away but in space, this is not an unheard-of occurrence. Speaking of salt and pepper, each of these is in a liquid form - because the small, ground-up particles would simply float into the air if they weren't. Additionally, meals are vacuum-sealed and water is needed to hydrate some of them.
Exercising Is Nothing Like Hitting The Gym On Earth
Gravity plays a role in nearly everything that's done in outer space. While floating through the solar system, astronauts are required to maintain a physical fitness routine, which means fighting the lack of gravity in order to do so.
A minimum of two hours of exercise is required to counteract any negative physical side effects and in order to do something as simple as running on the treadmill, astronauts need to use bungee cords to strap themselves in.
Sunsets And Sunrises Mean Something Different For Sleep
The amount of sunrises and sunsets those in space encounter is astounding - 16 in total, in the time period of what would normally be one each for those of us on Earth. While eight hours of sleep is required for astronauts, achieving that is far from easy.
The lack of weight means that sleeping requires a good strapping-in, combined with potential motion sickness and/or mood changes, which means that a good night's sleep is not always in the cards. It's a tough thing to get used to when a person has experienced solid weight and gravity their entire lives, to say the least.
The Health Effects Are Significant And Not In A Good Way
Human beings are not designed to survive in space which is exactly why it takes so much to accomplish. Astronauts face a variety of health risks and must be in top shape just to do so. Microgravity can cause muscle and bone loss which can cause serious problems when they make it back to Earth. The lack of gravity means that muscles aren't used as often to do simple things such as stand, sit, and walk around.
The flight itself decreases immunity and can also affect cardiovascular health, leading to other potential risks. This can even lead to things such as face puffiness and a lesser-used heart muscle and decreased blood flow. Physical characteristics can often be affected as well, altering a person's appearance due to levels of radiation in space.