READING FURTHER
The Human Body in Outer Space A rocket ship has blasted off from Earth and is heading to the International Space Station—the ISS. Although blast-off was the most dangerous part of the mission, the astronauts onboard still face plenty of risks. Their bodies could be in trouble while they are in space and even after they return home. What will they do in space, and what will put their bodies at risk? Let’s follow them on their trip and find out. Life Aboard the International Space Station After a one to three day trip, our astronauts arrive at the International Space Station, which orbits 400 km above Earth. While our newcomers climb aboard the ISS, the other astronauts living there will head for home. They have been living on the ISS for up to a year, near the limit that humans have tested being exposed to the extraordinary conditions of space. The International Space Station is huge and like no home on
Astronauts from many countries live and work at the International Space Station, where they conduct research and adjust to doing everyday things differently. Although the ISS is large, it is full of equipment and living space is tight.
Earth. The ISS is about the size of a football field, and it gets bigger as astronauts build onto it. It has two bathrooms, a gym, and a large bay window that offers a panoramic view of space. While the astronauts conduct research, they must learn to live life weightlessly in space. Astronauts brush their teeth with toothbrushes and toothpaste, but there is no running water, so they must spit into a washcloth or swallow the toothpaste. To get clean, astronauts use special soap and shampoo that don’t need to be rinsed off. Space toilets, too, are more complex than those on Earth. They work like a vacuum cleaner with fans that suck air and wastes into the toilet. Astronauts have to hold onto bars with their hands and feet so that they don’t float off the seat. Eating in space is also different. There are no refrigerators, so most food is sealed in individual airtight packages so that it doesn’t spoil. Salt and pepper are available only as liquids because dry seasonings could float into air ducts and block them. Our astronauts seem to be able to adjust to doing everyday things a bit differently in space. However, their bodies may suffer the risks that space presents.
60
Lesson 3