Curious ElfVisiting space is perhaps all of our direst dreams. Floating into a pool of nothingness and living the extraordinary must be a whole new feeling. But it only takes an astronaut to understand just how challenging this dream can be. Unlike other sweet dreams, this one requires serious hustles.
Naturally, the life of these astronauts is a grueling experience altogether. Going without seeing their family for years and swinging between life and death is no cakewalk.
Here are eight shocking facts about Astronauts that will expose you to the reality of our fascinating space!
Urination in the commode isn’t a thing.
Urinating in space is nothing like doing it on earth. There are no modern commodes to flush off waste by water and a washbasin for clean-up. During short expeditions, astronauts get diapers for urination. For more extended trips, there are special toilets that work at zero gravity. So, all the urination is absorbed by an absorbent that acts as powerfully as a vacuum cleaner. These powerful absorbents clean up everything that surrounds them at all.
Taking a shower is challenging too.
Apart from entirely uncomfortable urination, astronauts are also forbidden from taking long hot showers in the washroom. We all know that all the water that these astronauts use in space comes from the earth. So, they have to make sure that they use this precious resource very carefully to clean up daily. So, instead of diving into a hot water bath, they have to use a damp cloth to lather up their body here. Imagine taking a shower this way for like months!
The health impacts of space-traveling are grave.
After a long journey in space, astronauts find their health in excruciatingly tiring conditions. Many times, their face gets swollen with all the liquid moving upwards in their body. That happens from all the floating in space. They also lose out on a loss of muscle mass due to the resistance released by gravity. Apart from that, they may also suffer from loss of density in the bones. Finally, they also find it difficult to walk and perform everyday activities absent in space for such a long time.
Food is not ordinary either.
The delicious grilled cheeseburgers and French fries are not something you will find in space. There, you will have to give up on all these sumptuous meals to settle for liquid foods. So, you can consume salt, pepper, and other foods in liquid form for as long as you survive in space. That is what all your favorite astronauts have to do to thrive here. Thus, coarse foods are strictly forbidden.
Those manicured nails will fall off.
Astronauts have to go through a lot to make a successful expedition in space. During this time, the weight of those bulky space gloves directly affects their nails as well. Thus, their nails fall off due to solid pressure that presses on the top of the fingernails. That is why they have to cut off their nails as tiny as possible to allow comfort when they travel in space wearing those heavy space gloves.
Spacewalk training occurs underwater.
Astronauts start their spacewalk training underwater. This happens because there is minimal gravity underwater, and you have to float in it. Such a situation is similar to the one they have to face in space. That is why underwater spacewalk training is well-suited for all of them.
Gravity is awful
Most people fantasize about the idea of floating in space. They think of it as a way of having super-fun and thrill. However, the reality is quite the contrary. With all the health consequences and urinating issues, astronauts hate the idea of gravity. If you experience the same, we guarantee you will hate it too.
They sleep with belts on
Due to the zero gravity in space, astronauts have to put a belt on before they go to sleep. Otherwise, they may end up floating in their sleep, which may render them sleepless in no time.
The Bottom Line
Although astronauts find themselves fighting an uphill battle in space, there is no doubt that this experience is always worth it. So, if you want to be an astronaut all your life, don’t shy away. It’s an experience to cherish for a lifetime.
