‘Russian wipes, tissues, Huggies': Take a tour of the International Space Station with Sunita Williams and learn how astronauts eat, sleep and poop
Astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Butch Wilmore recently made it back to Earth after their trip to space was unceremoniously stretched out to 9 months.
Have you ever wondered how exactly astronauts live in the International Space Station? Well, Williams is here to quench that curiosity, showing how astronauts live, work, and even use the bathroom in microgravity.
From floating while sleeping to drinking water bubbles while brushing teeth, life in space is unlike anything on Earth.
The sleeping quarters on the ISS are compact yet functional. In an old video of the space station, Williams explains:
'Four out of six of us sleep here, and people always ask—do you lie down? Are you in a bed? Not really, because it doesn't matter! You don't have the sensation of lying down. You just get in your sleeping bag.'
Each astronaut has a small, phone booth-like Sleep Station equipped with a sleeping bag and personal items like books, computers, and clothes. Unlike Earth, there's no 'right side up' in space, so astronauts can sleep in any orientation—even upside down!
One of the most common questions about space travel is: how do astronauts go to the bathroom? Williams gives a humorous yet informative answer:
'For number two, there's a small seat—you need good aim! And for number one, we use this hose. It's colour-coded, so we don't mix things up. And both have suction to make sure everything goes in the right direction!'
To prevent floating waste, the ISS toilet uses a vacuum suction system. Astronauts also have various options for toilet paper, from Russian wipes to disinfectant towels.
'Toilet paper? We have different options! Russian wipes, tissues, Huggies—just in case—and disinfectant wipes, because, well, things can get out of control!,' Williams says.
Brushing teeth in space is surprisingly different. Since water doesn't flow as it does on Earth, astronauts have to get creative:
'Toothpaste sticks to the brush, and so does water—it forms a floating bubble because of surface tension. You can either swallow the toothpaste (not recommended at home!) or spit it into a paper towel.'
Water clings to surfaces, forming little blobs, and astronauts use that to rinse their toothbrushes.
The kitchen is where astronauts gather to eat. The ISS is stocked with a mix of American, Russian, and Japanese space food. Some meals come dehydrated and need to be rehydrated with water, while others can be heated and eaten normally.
'We get food from all over—American, Russian, Japanese, and even special treats from home. My family sent up Fluff so I could make my favorite Fluffernutter sandwich with peanut butter!,' Williams exclaimed.
Astronauts enjoy a variety of foods, including meats, vegetables, snacks, and even candy.
Williams' tour offers a rare glimpse into astronaut life, showing how they eat, sleep, and maintain hygiene in a zero-gravity environment. 🚀
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