The International Space Station (ISS) has played a significant role in progressing humanity to understand the whole cosmos more. With that, here are the top 10 things to know about the ISS.
The International Space Station Is a Laboratory in Space
The ISS is an orbiting space laboratory. It has six sleeping quarters, a gym and an observation window that provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. It also has space for a wide range of science experiments.
The ISS is a scientific hub where astronauts conduct research and studies to advance humanity.
The International Space Station Is a Multinational Project
The ISS was built with the cooperation of multiple nations around the world. It is the largest infrastructure humans successfully deployed in space.
It also allowed countries to work together in building the multinational construction project through the partnership of the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Russia.
According to CNN, components of the ISS were launched into orbit on 42 assembly flights, 37 U.S. space shuttle missions, and five Russian rocket missions. Most of the facility's main structure was completed between 1998 and 2011.
Packed Meals in Space
The range of food in space is now growing into having a plethora of options. More than 300 different foods are on the ISS's menu of space food. Most food in space stays good for a long time, and it is often stored in plastic boxes. Several can be made by adding cold or hot water, and a few can be heated in an oven. In addition, astronauts can also have nuts, bread, and fruits ready to eat.
Growing Plants in Space
The ISS being an orbital laboratory has successfully grown their own plants in space. Just recently, one of the astronauts that contributed to the development of food growing in space is NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei.
NASA's Vande Hei and his co astronauts have successfully grown peppers and green vegetables aboard the ISS.
Sleeping in Space
A lot of space enthusiasts always wonder how astronauts sleep in space knowing there is no gravity in space. Do astronauts sleep floating? People on the ISS sleep by putting their bodies in small sleeping compartments or sleeping bags to keep them from floating.
Many machines and air-conditioning fans make a lot of noise in space, so the sound is always there. astronauts who find these noises annoying and can't sleep may wear eye masks and earplugs to block out the sounds.
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Toilet Situation in Space
Surprisingly, there isn't a shower-like situation in space. However, the toilet is a different thing. Astronauts, like any other human, need to use the toilet multiple times a day. Space enthusiasts are wondering how astronauts excrete their stool in space.
With that, the Japanese self-made billionaire Yusaku Maezawa went to the ISS last year aboard the Soyuz rocket and documented his stay through a vlog. Maezawa was accompanied by Japanese citizen Yozo Hirano who helped document their 11 days stay on the International Space Station.
Exercising in Space
Astronauts need to exercise daily for two hours a day in space to assure that their bones and muscles do not weaken and can grow stronger in return. Astronauts work out with resistance exercise equipment for weight training, and with aerobic exercise equipment like a treadmill and an ergometer to get fit in space.
Getting Sick in Space
Every crew member aboard a rocket mission to the Space Station has roles assigned to them on space. Their space agencies also train their astronauts for the specific roles they play in space. The astronaut who is in charge of emergency medical care is the one who is in charge of the Crew Medical Officer job.
The Crew Medical Officer in space is trained for first aid, suturing wounds, and administering injections. However, in case of emergencies, all astronauts are taught how to perform emergency resuscitation in case a member of the crew goes into cardiac arrest.
Taking a Bath in Space
Taking a bath in space is a different experience knowing that gravity does not exist. Having running water here on Earth will not be the same in space. If astronauts open something like a faucet in space, where gravity is very weak, the water will fly in every direction. For this reason, there are no baths, showers, or washstands on the International Space Station.
As reported by JAXA, in space, astronauts use a wet towel containing body wash to clean themselves. Astronauts can wash their hair by applying shampoo that works without water and wiping it off with a dry towel.
To wash their hands or face, astronauts wipe them with a wet wipe, or wet towel containing liquid soap.
Negative Health Impacts of Being in Space
When living in the International Space Station and in microgravity, crew members lose muscle and bone mass. To make up for this, they have to exercise for more than two hours a day. They lose strength in their lower backs and legs if they don't work out often.
Humans' immune systems and cardiovascular health also get worse when they go into space. When people are on Earth, their hearts do a lot of work to fight gravity and move blood to all parts of their bodies. However, when astronauts move in space, blood and water move up which makes astronauts look puffy.
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