Buzz
Living in space is the ultimate dream of science fiction. It’s a reality that many courageous men and women have turned into truth, all thanks to the numerous shuttle missions and space station projects conducted by various space agencies.
But it’s easy to overlook the fact that their time in space isn’t all about spacewalks and conducting scientific experiments. Astronauts must adapt to an entirely new way of living during their missions.
10. Gigantic Microbes
‘Sick’ houses are buildings plagued by a severe mold infestation, posing a serious health threat to those living within them. While they’re far from ideal to live in, at least the residents have the option to move to a new place or step outside to get some fresh air.
‘Sick’ spaceships and space stations don’t have this luxury.
Mold, microbes, bacteria, and fungi are significant issues in space. Large colonies of these organisms can damage sensitive equipment and present health risks, and despite thorough disinfection of shuttles before launch, these tiny invaders always manage to hitch a ride.
In space, microbes cease to behave like regular mold and morph into something straight out of a science fiction tale. They thrive in moisture, which eventually turns into hidden, floating balls of microbe-laden water. These water droplets can grow as large as a basketball, harboring enough harmful microbes to even erode stainless steel. If proper precautions aren’t in place, these microbial threats pose a severe risk to both the crew and the space station.
9. Space Adaptation Syndrome
Space Adaptation Syndrome is essentially 2-3 days of extreme sickness that begins as soon as gravity vanishes. Up to 80% of all astronauts experience this condition.
In microgravity, since the body has no weight, the brain becomes disoriented. Our sense of spatial orientation (how our eyes and brain detect where everything is) typically relies on gravity. When gravity is absent, the brain struggles to process the environment, and the sudden bodily changes make matters worse. The brain responds by causing severe illness in the individual, similar to motion sickness (which is why it's also known as Space Motion Sickness). Symptoms can range from nausea and mild discomfort to uncontrollable vomiting and hallucinations. While regular motion sickness medicine might help, it's generally avoided in favor of allowing the body to adjust naturally.
Senator Jake Garn, a former astronaut, holds the record for the most severe case of Space Adaptation Syndrome ever documented. The exact extent of his sickness remains unclear, but his crewmate notably said, 'We shouldn’t tell stories like that.' To commemorate his experience, the Astronaut Corps uses the unofficial 'Garn Scale,' where one Garn signifies complete illness and total incapacitation. Fortunately, most people never go above 0.1 Garn.
8. Sleeping Problems
You might think that sleeping in the serene darkness of space would be easy, but it’s actually quite challenging. Astronauts need to secure themselves to a bunk to prevent floating around and colliding with objects. With only four bunks in a shuttle, astronauts on larger missions often have to sleep in a sleeping bag attached to a wall or even on a chair. When they reach a space station, the situation improves slightly with two private crew cabins, each offering large windows perfect for gazing at space.
Living in space—at least in the small portions that humans have explored—can greatly disturb sleep patterns. The International Space Station orbits in such a way that it experiences a 'sunrise' and 'sunset' approximately 16 times a day. This 90-minute 'day' can be difficult for astronauts to adjust to.
An equally significant issue is the constant noise inside space shuttles and stations. Filters, fans, and engines produce a constant hum and buzz around the crew. Even though earplugs and sleeping pills might help, astronauts often find that it takes time to acclimate to the relentless sound.
On a positive note, the quality of sleep in space can actually be better than on Earth. Weightlessness has been shown to reduce sleep apnea and snoring, contributing to a much more restful sleep.
7. Personal Grooming Challenges
When we picture astronauts on their missions, hygiene might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, considering that a group of people are living in a confined space for long periods, it’s easy to understand why astronauts must prioritize their personal cleanliness.
Showers are obviously not feasible in a weightless environment. Even if there was enough water, the droplets from the showerhead would just cling to the body or float around in small globules. This is why each astronaut has a special hygiene kit (containing items like combs, toothbrushes, and other grooming essentials) that can be attached to lockers, walls, or other fixtures. Astronauts wash their hair with a rinse-free shampoo originally designed for bedridden hospital patients. Their bodies are cleaned using sponges. Shaving and brushing teeth are done the same way as on Earth, but they must be extra cautious—if a stray hair escapes, it could drift into a fellow astronaut’s eye (or worse, clog a vital piece of equipment) and create a serious problem.
6. The Toilet
One of the most frequently asked questions from people curious about space isn’t 'How did Earth look?' or 'What did zero gravity feel like?' Instead, it’s usually 'How did you use the toilet in space?'
This is a valid question, and space agencies have dedicated a lot of time and effort to making the process as efficient as possible. The early space toilets used a simple air-based mechanism: air would suck the waste into a container. There was also a specialized vacuum tube for urination. Some of the first shuttles even used a more basic version known as a 'relief tube.' As depicted in the movie Apollo 13, the urine from this tube was expelled directly into space.
A crucial part of the toilet system was the air filtration. The air that carried the waste was the same air astronauts breathed, so any malfunction in the filtration system could make the cabin extremely uncomfortable. Over time, designs evolved. With more women joining space missions, a special urination system with an oval 'collector' was developed. Further innovations included rotating fans, improved waste storage, and more efficient waste management systems. Today, some space toilets are so advanced they can even recycle urine into drinkable water.
Here’s a fun fact that might embarrass your astronaut friend: astronauts in training have to practice using a space toilet with a special device called the 'positional trainer.' This is a training toilet with a video camera under its seat, so astronauts must sit correctly while watching a live feed of their own bare backside on a monitor. This is considered one of the 'deepest, darkest secrets of space flight.'
5. Clothing
When we think of space attire, the space suit immediately comes to mind. These suits come in various sizes, shapes, and colors, from the basic SK-1 jumpsuit worn by Yuri Gagarin to the hefty AX-5 hardshell worn by NASA astronauts. On average, a space suit weighs around 270 pounds (in Earth’s gravity) and takes about 45 minutes to put on. The suit is so bulky that astronauts must use special Lower Torso Assembly Donning Handles to put on the lower half.
But space fashion isn’t limited to just the space suit. Life in space means astronauts need far fewer clothes than on Earth. There’s little chance of getting dirty since spacewalks are rare (and astronauts wear special suits for those), and the interiors of spacecraft and space stations are meticulously clean. Additionally, with the absence of gravity-induced strain, astronauts don’t sweat much. As a result, crews typically change outfits every three days.
Space clothing has also been key in addressing the issue of human waste. Initially, the plan was to build toilet facilities into the space suits themselves. But when that proved unfeasible, NASA developed the 'Maximum Absorbency Garment'—basically high-tech shorts designed to hold up to two liters (or one quart) of liquid. This became the emergency solution for astronauts during long missions.
4. Atrophy
Despite the body taking on a more superhero-like appearance in space, microgravity doesn’t actually make us stronger. In fact, it has the opposite effect. On Earth, we use our muscles constantly—not just for lifting and moving, but also to fight gravity. In space, however, with no gravity to resist, the muscles stop being used regularly and begin to weaken and shrink in a process called muscular atrophy. Over time, even the spine and bones start to weaken, as they no longer need to bear weight.
To counter this muscle degeneration and keep their strength intact, astronauts must exercise intensely. For example, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are required to spend 2.5 hours each day working out in a specially designed space gym.
3. Physical Changes
In the microgravity of space, the human body begins to behave in unexpected ways. With no gravity pulling it down, the spine begins to straighten, adding up to 5.72 centimeters (2.25 inches) to the person's height. The internal organs shift upwards inside the torso, causing the waistline to shrink by several inches. Additionally, the cardiovascular system undergoes significant changes. Without gravity, the powerful leg muscles, which usually work to pump blood upward, begin pushing blood and fluids into the upper body. This results in a noticeably bulkier torso and much thinner legs. NASA humorously refers to this as 'chicken legs.' Essentially, astronauts transform into a cartoonish figure with a small waist, tiny legs, and an exaggeratedly large upper body. Even the face changes, becoming puffy and swollen due to the increased blood flow in the upper body.
While these changes may sound unsettling, they are actually quite harmless.
2. Space Can Ruin The Brain
Astronauts are typically very resilient when it comes to psychological pressure. Space agencies conduct rigorous psychological evaluations to ensure that crew members can handle the stress of long missions without losing their sanity. However, life in space can still pose a serious risk to the brain. The main culprit is cosmic radiation: the low-level radiation that pervades space, effectively turning it into a microwave oven. On Earth, our atmosphere shields us from this radiation, but once beyond its protective cover, there’s little to block its harmful effects. Prolonged exposure to space's radiation can have detrimental effects on the brain, potentially accelerating the development of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
As humanity looks toward future missions to Mars and beyond, the potential for irreparable brain damage becomes a real concern due to the extended exposure to cosmic radiation.
1. Flatulence
Flatulence is often uncomfortable and embarrassing, but in space, it can become a serious health risk. In 1969, NASA took this issue seriously enough to conduct a study titled 'Intestinal hydrogen and methane of men fed space diet.' While it may sound humorous, the concern was quite legitimate. Flatulence contains significant amounts of methane and hydrogen, both of which are highly flammable gases. The problem was further compounded by the fact that space food, vastly different from a normal Earth diet, was found to produce excessive gas. This caused a genuine concern about the risk of explosions in the spacecraft, prompting scientists to analyze the gases to develop a less gaseous diet for astronauts.
Nowadays, flatulence is no longer viewed as a significant, life-threatening concern. However, in the confined space of a spacecraft, it's still wise to be mindful of your diet. After all, no one wants to be known as the person who fills the air with unpleasant odors for months on end.
