Why do astronauts do not wash in the shower: 10 facts about life in weightlessness

1. Astronauts do not change clothes for a long time

ISS does not erase things, because in space there is no water. Because of this a long time cosmonauts are the same: socks - a week, a jacket and pants - about a month. If they changed their clothes more often, it would take too much space. But this does not mean that astronauts go dirty air cleaner at the ISS, and hygiene stiffer than the Earth, so the clothes become dirty slower.

In addition, scientists are developing a space linen with an antimicrobial coating to wear for longer lasting freshness. It is not so simple: the clothes should not irritate the skin and cause goiter, kills beneficial bacteria on human skin.

2. In space, uncomfortable cry

In weightlessness, nothing makes the tears flow down her cheeks. Instead, they accumulate in the bowl around the eyeball and burning eyes. The more tears, the more water bowl, which seemed stuck to the eye and never runs down. To get rid of unpleasant feelings, you need to wipe the tears away with a towel or handkerchief.

In space, the tears irritate the eyes, although the idea of ​​nature must moisturize and protect. This is because, under the influence of low gravity changes the chemical composition of fluids in the body. In addition, the weightlessness in humans there is a feeling of dry eyes, and tears provoke high contrast, and therefore an unpleasant feeling.

3. Astronauts eat not only from the tubes

Contrary to popular belief, an orbit can eat fruits, berries and cakes in kind. Official Russian cosmonauts menu consists of 250 items, and if sent to the ISS cargo ship, they can order something fresh.

Conventional salt and pepper astronauts are not available if the salt or pepper dish in weightlessness, spices scatter and get into your eyes. Therefore, in the course are liquid saline solution and seasonings - especially popular mustard and ketchup.

For Russian astronauts on the ISS supply ketchup and sauces "Maheev". According to the director of "Essen Production AG" Leonid Baryshev, which owns the trademark "Maheev" into orbit comes exactly the same ketchup, as well as in stores. The Company does not create a special line of products for the food on board: the usual sauces from the supermarket have successfully passed all the checks on the quality. So if you're eating ketchup or mustard "Maheev" you can feel a little astronaut.

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publication of oleg Novitskiy (@Novitskiy_iss) 21 Mar 2017 at 8:12 PDT

4. Sleep in space and may be vertically even upside down

During sleep do not fly the ship, the astronauts relax in special sleeping modules. This vertical and horizontal sleeping bags that are attached to the wall. Bedroom units are located so, because in space anyway, how to sleep: there is no floor and ceiling, bottom and top, so you can relax even upside down. Often, the astronauts take a fetal position, which is the most natural in low gravity.

In addition, the astronauts have to sleep under the fan. It provides air circulation with the correct oxygen and does not allow a person to suffocate from carbon dioxide exhaled during sleep time. Fan runs loudly, the noise reaches 65 dB. Therefore, the astronauts use ear plugs.

5. The skin on the heels becomes smooth, but it is dangerous

To move around in weightlessness, it is not necessary to go. Therefore, the rough skin on heels softens and exfoliates. Because of this, the astronauts have to be very careful to take socks to the dead skin cells are not scattered all over the place, risking someone's eyes or clog the equipment.

6. Astronauts do not take a shower

ISS no one takes a shower in the usual sense of the word. Astronauts wipe the skin with a wet towel to save water and time. If you really want, you can squeeze a drop of water and liquid soap directly on the skin - liquid bubbles pristanut to it. Then you need to slowly mix them directly on the skin and rub on the body, so they are not separated and flew away. Water station spent very little, because the orbit indelible even shampoo - after soaping hair just wipe with a towel.

7. Astronauts are cut with scissors with a vacuum cleaner

The crew is on for a few months the station, so sometimes you have to get a haircut straight into space. To this end, the astronauts used a pair of scissors, connected to a vacuum tube that sucks the hair, not letting them scatter on the spacecraft cabin. The same principle works and electric shavers, shaving debris suction.

8. Astronauts are trained to use the toilet in the world

Of daily visits to the toilet room can not escape even in orbit. The process to be as comfortable as possible, it was equipped with seat belts. The visitor strengthens himself in a comfortable position and sits down. But things are not so simple. Due to the fact that the space is not being used to drain the water, the astronauts have to train more in the world, so as not to miss in weightlessness and avoid embarrassing mistakes.

9. Bloating in space - a serious problem

In space, banned foods that cause bloating. Not only because a lover of extravagant food will irritate colleagues unpleasant smell, but also because of the danger to life. Methane and hydrogen, produced by the human body, - explosive gases.

10. In weightlessness, it is necessary to go in for sports

In weightlessness heart much easier to pump blood through the body. This is dangerous because over time the load lack of it can greatly diminish. To stay in shape, the astronauts every day for 2.5 hours pay the sport. To this end, the spacecraft has simulators: a running track, and veloergonometr simulator that simulates gravity. Regular exercise can also help prevent atrophy of the leg muscles, because in the space they are almost not used.

Space life seems very strange. But the human body quickly adapts to life in zero gravity. Back on Earth, many astronauts dropping objects and beat the dishes, that are accustomed to the fact that things are floating the air.