Life on a Space Station: How Astronauts Live in Orbit

Episode overview
"Life on a Space Station: How Astronauts Live in Orbit" lets kids peek into daily routines on the International Space Station (ISS): eating, sleeping, exercising, and doing experiments in microgravity.

Learning goals

• Understand that astronauts live in microgravity, not true “no gravity.”
• Learn how basic tasks (sleeping, eating, washing, using the bathroom) change in orbit.
• See why exercise and teamwork are so important in space.

Segment 1 — What is a space station?

• Describe the ISS as a laboratory orbiting Earth about 400 km up, going around the planet roughly every 90 minutes.
• Explain “microgravity” as falling around Earth all the time, which makes things feel weightless.

Segment 2 — A day in orbit

Walk through a rough daily schedule:

• Wake up, plan the day with Mission Control.
• Science experiments (growing plants, studying fire, testing materials, health studies).
• Maintenance tasks: fixing equipment, checking systems.
• Exercise: running on a treadmill with straps, biking, resistance machines.
• Meals, talking with family, looking out the window at Earth, sleep.

Segment 3 — Everyday tasks made weird

• Sleeping: in sleeping bags attached to the wall so you don’t float around.
• Eating: food in pouches; no crumbs or floating drops; careful with water.
• Bathing: no shower; use wet wipes and small amounts of water.
• Toilet: air flow helps move waste; everything is carefully contained.

Emphasize how important cleanliness is in a closed environment.

Segment 4 — Why exercise and teamwork matter

• Without regular exercise, muscles and bones weaken in microgravity.
• Astronauts also practice emergency drills and communication skills.
• Many countries work together on the ISS; it’s like an international science camp in space.

Activity — Design your own space station module

1. On paper, draw a small module (room) of a space station.
2. Decide its purpose: sleeping area, gym, greenhouse, or science lab.
3. Mark where things attach to walls/ceilings (remember there is no “down” in microgravity).
4. Add at least two safety or backup features (handholds, fire extinguisher, spare air filter).

Reflection questions

• Which part of space‑station life sounds most fun? Most challenging?
• If you could send one experiment to be done on the ISS, what would it test?
• What do you think astronauts miss most about Earth while they are in orbit?

Introduction

Imagine living 250 miles above Earth, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour, and watching 16 sunrises and sunsets every day! Welcome to the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts from around the world live and work in one of the most extreme environments humans have ever called home. Life on the ISS is nothing like life on Earth—there's no up or down, you can't take a normal shower, and even going to the bathroom requires special training! Let's discover how astronauts eat, sleep, exercise, and conduct amazing science experiments while floating in space.

🏠 Living in a Flying Laboratory

The Space Station: The ISS is about the size of a six-bedroom house and has more living space than a Boeing 747 jumbo jet! It includes two bathrooms, a gym, six sleeping quarters, and a special window called the Cupola where astronauts can see Earth below. The station orbits Earth every 90 minutes, which means astronauts see a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes.
What is Microgravity? People often call it 'zero gravity,' but there's actually a tiny bit of gravity everywhere in space. In microgravity, astronauts don't walk—they float! Heavy objects that weigh hundreds of pounds on Earth can be moved with just a fingertip. But this floating life comes with challenges: without gravity pulling on their bodies, astronauts' muscles and bones can become weaker, which is why exercise is so important.
Cool Microgravity Facts: Fire burns in a round shape instead of pointing upward. Liquids don't pour—they form floating blobs! Blood and body fluids flow toward astronauts' heads, making them feel stuffy (like having a cold). Astronauts can grow up to 2 inches taller in space because their spines stretch without gravity pulling them down.

🍽️ Eating, Sleeping, and Daily Routines

A Day in Space: Astronauts work from about 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time. They get eight hours of sleep, eat three meals, and exercise for 2.5 hours each day. But everything is done while floating!
Space Food: The ISS menu has over 300 different food items! Most food comes in plastic containers and some needs water added or heating in a special oven. Astronauts can eat regular foods like nuts, bread, and fruits, but drinks come in bags with straws to prevent liquid from floating away. Food has to be extra flavorful because being in space dulls taste buds—that's why astronauts love spicy food! Popular meals include shrimp cocktail, macaroni and cheese, and brownies.
Sleeping in Space: Since there's no 'up' or 'down,' astronauts can sleep anywhere—even on the ceiling! Most sleep in small sleeping compartments or sleeping bags attached to walls to prevent floating away. They need to sleep near air vents because warm air doesn't rise in space, and without airflow, astronauts could wake up in a bubble of their own exhaled carbon dioxide. Many wear eye masks and earplugs because the station's machinery is always humming and the sun rises every 45 minutes!
Staying Clean: No showers in space! Astronauts clean themselves by wiping their bodies with wet towels soaked in liquid soap, and they use special waterless shampoo. Every drop of water is precious on the ISS, so it's all recycled—including sweat and urine! About 90% of water-based liquids are cleaned and reused.

🚽 The Space Toilet Mystery

One of the most asked questions about space: How do astronauts go to the bathroom? The answer: Carefully—and with suction!
Why It's Tricky: On Earth, gravity pulls waste down and away. But without gravity, any loose drops could float around—which would be bad for health and equipment!
How the Space Toilet Works: The toilet has two parts—a hose with a funnel for peeing and a small raised seat for pooping. For peeing, astronauts hold the funnel tightly against their skin so nothing leaks. For pooping, they sit on a seat that starts suctioning as soon as the lid is lifted to prevent things from drifting away and control odors. The bathroom is full of handholds and footholds so astronauts don't float off mid-business!
What Happens to the Waste? Poop goes into garbage bags in airtight containers, which are loaded onto cargo ships and burned up in Earth's atmosphere when launched back. So if you've ever seen a shooting star, it might have been a meteorite—or flaming astronaut poo! Urine is recycled: about 90% of all water-based liquids are cleaned and reused for drinking water.

💪 Exercise: Fighting the Effects of Microgravity

Without gravity, astronauts' muscles and bones don't have to work as hard, so they can become weak. That's why astronauts exercise for about 2 hours every day!
Space Gym Equipment: The ISS has three main exercise machines: ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device) for weight training, T2 treadmill for running, and CEVIS cycle ergometer for cycling. But here's the tricky part—astronauts have to strap themselves to the machines or they'd float away with every movement!
Why Exercise Matters: Regular exercise helps astronauts keep their bones strong, maintain muscle tone, and stay healthy during their six-month missions. It also helps them adjust back to Earth's gravity when they return home.

🚀 Spacewalks: Working Outside the Station

A spacewalk (or EVA—extravehicular activity) is when astronauts leave the safety of the space station to work outside. It's one of the most exciting and dangerous parts of being an astronaut!
Why Spacewalks? Astronauts go on spacewalks to repair satellites, fix spacecraft, test new equipment, and conduct science experiments. The first spacewalk was by Alexei Leonov from Russia on March 18, 1965, and it lasted just 10 minutes. The first American spacewalker was Ed White on June 3, 1965.
The Spacesuit: A spacesuit is like a miniature spaceship shaped like a human body! It provides oxygen to breathe, protects from extreme temperatures (from -250°F in shadow to +250°F in sunlight), and shields against tiny space debris traveling at incredibly high speeds. Without a spacesuit, an astronaut couldn't survive in the vacuum of space.
Staying Safe: Astronauts use safety tethers (like ropes) to stay attached to the station so they don't float away into space. They also wear a backpack called SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue) with small jet thrusters that let them move around if they get untethered. Today, spacewalks usually last between 5 and 8 hours!

🔬 Hands-On Space Station Activities

Ready to experience life like an astronaut? Try these fun activities at home!

1. Design Your Own Space Food Menu: Create a one-week menu of foods that could travel to space. Remember: they need to be non-perishable, easy to store, and tasty enough to enjoy when your taste buds are dulled! Try freeze-drying fruits at home or making your own 'space ice cream.'
2. Build a Microgravity Simulator: Fill a clear container with water and drop lightweight objects like foam pieces or plastic beads. Watch how they 'float' in the water—similar to how objects float in microgravity! Try moving them with your finger to see how astronauts might manipulate objects in space.
3. ISS Docking Challenge: Create a simple docking simulator using cardboard tubes and boxes. Try to 'dock' one tube (your spacecraft) into another (the ISS) while blindfolded or with limited vision. Remember, the ISS travels at 28,000 km per hour, making precise docking incredibly difficult!
4. Train Like an Astronaut: Design your own 2-hour astronaut workout routine! Include exercises that strengthen bones and muscles. Try doing jumping jacks, running in place, or resistance exercises. Track your progress for a week and see how it feels to exercise like someone preparing for space.
5. Design a Space Station Patch: Every space mission has a unique crew patch! Design your own mission patch that represents your family's imaginary mission to the ISS. Include symbols of what experiments you'd conduct and what you'd explore in space.
6. Astronaut Reaction Time Test: Astronauts need quick reflexes! Have a friend hold a ruler vertically with the zero end at the bottom. Place your thumb and finger near the bottom without touching it. When they drop it, catch it as fast as you can. The lower the number where you catch it, the faster your reaction time. Practice to improve your astronaut skills!
7. Build a Cardboard Cupola: The Cupola is the ISS's amazing observation window where astronauts can see Earth. Use a cardboard box and clear plastic to create your own mini Cupola. Cut out windows and decorate it to look like you're looking down at Earth from 250 miles up!

📚 Sources & Learn More

Educational Resources for Kids

• ESA Space for Kids - The International Space Station
• NASA - What Is the International Space Station? (Grades K-4)
• NASA - What Is the International Space Station? (Grades 5-8)
• TeachEngineering - Life in Space: The International Space Station

Daily Life and Routines

• ESA - Daily Life on the ISS
• NASA - Living and Working in Space
• JAXA - Everyday Life on the ISS
• Canadian Space Agency - Physical Activity in Space

Microgravity and Science

• NASA - What Is Microgravity? (Grades K-4)
• NASA - What Is Microgravity? (Grades 5-8)
• ESA Space for Kids - Gravity and Weightlessness

Spacewalks and Space Suits

• NASA - What Is a Spacewalk? (Grades K-4)
• NASA - What Is a Spacewalk? (Grades 5-8)

Activities and Experiments

• NASA at Home - For Kids and Families
• NASA Space Place - Activities
• Mission X - Train Like an Astronaut Activities
• ISS National Lab - Learn at Home
• The Homeschool Scientist - Outer Space STEM Activities