Life on orbiting ISS revolves around food, fitness and filtered sweat
Emirati astronaut Al Neyadi will face new challenges during six-month mission to the space station
The International Space Station has hosted astronauts from around the world for more than 20 years, allowing them to eat, sleep and bathe in microgravity during missions.
Life on the research station, which is in orbit more than 400km above Earth, will be no different for Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.
He is scheduled to travel on his first mission to space on February 26 as part of the Nasa/ SpaceX Crew-6 mission.
He will travel alongside US astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Dr Al Neyadi will take traditional Emirati meals, photos of his family and the UAE flag with him to make the environment feel a little less alien.
But his six-month stay on the station will bring many new experiences, including drinking coffee made using processed and filtered urine and sweat.
Astronauts have over the years documented these daily routines to show the world what life is like on the station.
Among the on-board amenities is a high-tech toilet worth $23 million.
It was installed on the ISS in 2020 and cost about $4 million more than the toilet Nasa purchased for the station in 2007.
The titanium toilet, called the Universal Waste Management System, uses air flow to pull urine and faeces away from the body into separate containers.
The air flow begins automatically when the lid is lifted and the toilet comprises corrosionresistant parts.
It was also designed to cut the amount of time astronauts spend cleaning and maintaining the device, allowing them to focus on other tasks and science experiments.
A funnel and hose are used for urine, while foot restraints and handles help the astronaut to stay in place.
Toilet paper, wipes and gloves are disposed of in watertight bags.
Solid waste is kept in individual bags, most of which are loaded on to a cargo ship and burnt during re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere. Some are brought back for evaluation.
Liquid waste is processed and filtered for consumption.
That is because water is heavy and storage space is limited, with astronauts required to recycle almost everything while on board the station.
The high-tech toilet gives astronauts everything they need, except for a shatafa.
Washing will also present a new challenge to Dr Al Neyadi.
Installing a shower, tap or sink on the station would be pointless because the water would float away in the form of droplets.
That means he will have to learn to shower and brush his teeth differently while in space.
He will bathe using a wet towel that contains body wash and will apply shampoo without water to his hair, before wiping it off with a dry towel.
To brush his teeth, he will use small amounts of water dispensed through a straw to rinse and then swallow.
Meals on the space station have improved over the years, with an oven installed there two years ago.
Astronauts have baked cookies and used vegetables grown on the station to add greater variety to their diet while in orbit. But they mostly consume dehydrated food stored in packets.
Astronauts add water to the meals or heat them using the oven.
There are also some readyto-eat items, including fruit, bread and nuts.
Dr Al Neyadi has not yet announced what his menu will comprise during his mission, but it will feature some traditional Emirati dishes. When Hazza Al Mansouri became the first UAE astronaut in space in 2019, he packed balaleet, salona and madrooba for his trip to the station.
Astronauts have at times held “food parties” on the ISS, especially during holidays such as Thanksgiving and Eid Al Fitr.
Astronauts are able to monitor their fitness, as well as their diet, while working in space.
It is mandatory to exercise for about two hours every day to help reduce the effects of zero gravity on their muscles and bones.
But the crew must use straps to keep themselves in place while working out.
Astronauts can exercise using resistance exercise equipment, including vacuum cylinders designed to mimic weight training on Earth.
They also use rubber straps to hold their bodies down while running on a treadmill. An ergometer
– a bicycle without wheels – is also used.
Dr Al Neyadi is a fitness enthusiast, having trained in jiu-jitsu for many years, and he plans to take his uniform with him to space.
When he has finished exercising and completed his tasks for the day, it will be time to rest.
Dr Al Neyadi will have to restrain his body in a small sleeping compartment or sleeping bag to keep himself from floating away.
Astronauts in the past have also complained about a lot of noise on the ISS, including the sound of air-conditioning fans and machinery, so they often use ear plugs to ensure they are not disturbed.
Dr Al Neyadi is part of a longterm mission, but he will not be cut off from his loved ones on Earth.
He will be able to communicate with his family using internet-enabled laptops on the station, while it is also possible to make voice and video calls.
But astronauts have to let mission control know first, so a satellite can be moved into place to allow the call to reach Earth.
This means family members cannot call Dr Al Neyadi whenever they like, because there may not be a satellite in range.