Living In Space
How a person can live in space? Is this possible? What about astronauts? These kinda questions have been asking by people for a long time. In this article, we will try to reply to these questions in light of information from ESA and NASA.
Bones Needs to Stay Strong
Since we don’t gravity in space, the balance of the human brain is changing because, on earth, we use our legs and lower body to carry our weight but in space, astronauts don’t use their legs. That’s why they start losing strength in their leg bones and lower back.
For solving this problem, of course, they need to exercise every day. Otherwise, when they come to earth again, it will be a big problem for them when they want to walk or carry their weight.
The heart and blood also change up there. On earth, our blood is going to our legs and the heart makes that blood move all around the body against gravity. In space, the blood is going to the head region instead of the lower body. Water is also doing the same thing. It makes astronauts’ faces puffy. When blood reaches the brain, the brain thinks there is so much fluid in the body and it commands the body to produce less than normal. So after astronauts come back to earth, they need to wait a few days to produce more blood and water in their bodies. Otherwise, they will feel weak, exhausted. They even can faint.
Astronauts Needs Stay Clean
Astronauts also need to stay clean in space but in a different way of course. To begin with, staying clean is taking much more time than earth because of gravity issues. Astronauts have their own toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, brushes, and shavers. These are kept in a Personal Hygiene Kit. They are also using the same toothbrush just like we do, but they have to spit into a washcloth.
Taking a bath is also kind of different up there. They have special soaps and shampoos. To rinse, their soaps don’t require water, that’s why they need to use them carefully because they shouldn’t let the bubbles go all around the room. After washing, they are using towels to dry off, they do not rinse.
Staying Neat
Doing chores is not always a fun thing. But we have to keep our rooms and houses clean and neat. In space, astronauts live in a very small space. They have to keep their area clean in space just like we do on Earth.
In space, the astronauts wipe the walls, floors, and windows to keep them clean. They use soap that kills germs. The astronauts also use wet wipes to wash things. They use the same kind of wipes and cleanser on their forks, spoons, and eating trays.
Astronauts have to take out the garbage, too. There are four trash bins on the Space Shuttle. Three are for dry trash and one is for wet trash. Wet trash is anything that could smell bad. Each trash container has a trash liner placed inside. It is like a plastic garbage bag. If the liner becomes full, it is closed. Then it is moved far away from the astronauts. The wet trash is closed uptight. It is then connected to a hose. The hose helps move bad smells away from the astronauts.
Astronauts must use a vacuum cleaner in space. The vacuum has a normal hose. It also has extra parts. These parts can clean areas that may be hard to reach. They also use it to keep dust out of the air filters. And sometimes things get loose. When things get loose, they float. Astronauts use the vacuum to “catch” floating objects that are out of their reach.
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Resources
This article contains information of NASA and ESA.
–> https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/home/F_Living_in_Space.html