Thanks to the films and visual representations we have about astronauts’ lives, we can understand what it is like to work like them. However, the real secrets include much more than just floating or the intrigue of how they go to the bathroom in space.
Many real NASA astronauts could deny what we assume and believe from what we see on the screen. Through Mental Floss, two astronauts shared their stories and experiences of their life in space, along with 11 secrets of what they experienced in their work.
Secrets Inside The Lives Of Astronauts
Mike Massimino and Garrett Reisman were part of a group of hard-working astronauts at NASA who shared a bit of life as an astronaut in space.
Astronauts Can Be Specialists In Different Fields
Generally, the desire to be an astronaut appears from an early age, so courses and tools that can capture the attention of NASA should be sought. There is no specific path to becoming an astronaut. Massimino said that NASA is looking for qualified people, from high-performing military to civilians with advanced degrees.
In addition to having US citizenship, applicants must have a master’s degree in a technology or engineering field along with two years of work experience.
Crews require various skills, so no specific criteria are needed for this process.
The Preparation Of An Astronaut Is Very Complete
Accepted candidates must complete years of training to be ready for some spaceflight. Most of this preparation takes place in a classroom, learning about ships and space systems.
As part of this training, they must also be physically prepared. Reisman shared that astronauts undergo training that prepares military aviators, which consists of “surviving, evading, resisting and escaping.” The idea is to make astronauts learn to survive without help.
Exercising Is Vital For An Astronaut
Exercising is an excellent remedy for hanging out in space and is essential for astronaut health. Because the body is not used to being without the force of gravity, astronauts must do resistance exercises while up there. Not exercising could cause loss of bone and muscle mass. According to Reisman, an astronaut can lose 20% of his muscle mass in an 11-day flight due to the lack of gravity.
Much Of The Work Of The Astronaut Is Carried Out On Earth
Would-be astronauts should know that most of the work is on Earth; they work from home. They must train and prepare, working on technical problems or helping others most of the time. For example, Massimino spent less than a month in space when he spent almost 20 years at NASA.
Astronauts Don’t Earn As Much
The salary of astronauts is one of the misconceptions people have about their work. There’s no denying it’s decent, but they don’t have the hundreds of thousands that many people would think.
According to Massimino, astronauts have a standard government salary. They are paid according to the salary scale of the General Government Program, and the payment increases as they gain experience.
Astronauts Can Lose Things (But Not For Long)
How could you lose something when locked in such a narrow place? Well, it is something that happens due to the lack of gravity. Astronauts must pay close attention to the belongings they are holding, or they could lose them.
Massimino shared an anecdote about fellow traveller Mike Good: “He had his grandfather’s watch with him. He approached me and said: “Misa, I can’t find the watch”. We looked everywhere, and we knew it was there. We found it in the air filter, where lost floating objects often ended up.”
Diverse Opinions About Food
Within the two interviewed astronauts, there were two opinions about the food: excellent and terrible. Massimino loved astronaut food. “We had ravioli, lasagna, fajitas. It was fantastic,” he said in an interview.
But then again, Reisman hated space food; the American and Russian portions were the majority of his diet, sought have a different opinion about food from other agencies.
Astronauts Get Time To Have Fun
Despite the many tasks that astronauts must complete, it is also essential that they find time to do something recreational. However, this means staying up past their bedtime, which Reisman confirmed as part of his trip.
He also said that taking pictures of the Earth is one of the most popular activities within the International Space Station.
Going To The Bathroom Is A Big Challenge
If one word could describe what it’s like to go to the bathroom in space, it would undoubtedly be “difficult.” “Doing the bathroom was not easy,” Reisman said. Due to the absence of gravity, astronauts must hold their feet down to avoid floating. In this way, they should create a seal between the seat and themselves. This is part of an astronaut’s training because it is so complex; what takes a few minutes here on Earth could take half an hour there.
