Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP / Getty Images
In June…two American astronauts left Earth expecting to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS). But after fears that their Boeing spacecraft was unsafe to fly back on, Nasa delayed Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s return until January! That will make a total of 8 months in space!
They are now sharing a space about the size of a six-bedroom house with nine other people. But what is it really like?
- They wake up around 6:30 from their phone-booth size sleeping quarters. The compartments have laptops so they can stay in contact with family and a nook for personal belongings like photos or books.
- What about going to the bathroom? There is a small compartment with a suction system. Sweat and urine is recycled into drinking water!!! YUCK!
- Without gravity pulling sweat off the body, the astronauts get covered in a coating of sweat - "way more than on Earth"
- They have plenty of food…cargo ships deliver supplies regularly.
- Speaking of food, it can be a hazard! Like if someone opens a can of meats and gravy…everyone is on high alert because little balls of grease drift out and you need to dodge the balls of meat juice!
- But really, they’re okay! They’re bummed they are going to miss out on important stuff down on earth like Butch won’t be around for his youngest daughter’s final year of high school. And they did request an absentee ballot so they can vote in the November election from orbit.