Page 43 - Life beyond the Karman

Eating
Sleeping
As they orbit earth, astronauts see many sunrises and sunsets per day. This is why they have to have a timetable that tells them when to sleep. Most astronauts say they sleep well in a weightless environment, although they cannot escape the fan noise. Fans are needed to move exhaled carbon dioxide away from their mouths so that they do not suffocate.
An Astronaut Space suit
An astronaut space suit is the protective clothing worn outside a spacecraft.
This suit provides them with air and water while protecting them from radiation, flying debris, and extreme temperatures. A special visor is attached to the helmet to protect astronauts’ eyes from the sun. These suits are also known as extravehicular mobility units.
A special backpack called a primary life support subsystem is provided to keep an astronaut alive. It provides oxygen to the astronaut while he or she is outside the spacecraft and disposes of carbon dioxide as it is exhaled. The backpack also has a water tank for cooling and provides electricity for the space suit.
Most food taken into space is dehydrated (dried out) so that it uses up less room and lasts longer. Astronauts consume a variety of foods, including pre-packaged meals, snacks, and drinks, all of which are carefully formulated to meet their nutritional needs. They use hot and cold water stored in special dispensers to prepare the food.
Investing in research to identify new foods and food technologies that could be used to enhance astronaut health and performance during long-duration space missions is one of the important needs for space exploration, given the physical effects that space can have on the human body. To meet the unique needs of astronauts, specialized systems for food formulation and packaging are being developed.
These systems consider the specific nutritional needs of astronauts, including the amount of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals required to maintain health in the unique conditions of space.
Exercise
In space, astronauts are not working against the force of gravity, so their muscles and bones start to waste away. To ensure that they can still stand up when they return to Earth, astronauts have to exercise for at least an hour every day. There is a range of exercise machines on board the International Space Station.
An Astronaut Space suit
LIFE BEYOND THE KÁRMÁN LINE - OUTER SPACE
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