 Weekend
Spotlight:
Astronaut Training
Camp
 Astronaut
Training Camp activity schedule
What
you'll learn in Astronaut Training Camp
Astronaut
Facts
Astronaut
Web sites
What's it like in Space?
Think of the most uncomfortable place you've ever visited on Earth. An unprotected visit to space is guaranteed to be much worse! Outside of Earth's atmosphere, there is no air to breathe, no pressure to keep your body intact, and nothing to protect you from extreme temperatures and deadly solar radiation. The lack of water, food, and four-star hotels would be the least of your worries.
Living in Orbit
 A human can only survive in space by taking Earth's environment along. Astronauts need to wear bulky space suits if they are outside the protection of a spacecraft cabin. Inside a spacecraft, astronauts can breathe normally and wear clothes like we wear on the ground. But life in an orbiting spacecraft is a far cry from life on Earth!
For one thing, astronauts in orbit feel weightless. Gravity keeps the spacecraft in orbit, but the astronauts don't feel the same effects of gravity as those of us standing still on Earth. To understand this, think of an unlucky person in an elevator whose cord has been cut. Until the elevator hits the ground, both person and elevator are falling toward Earth – so the person isn't pulled toward one side of the elevator or the floor. Even though gravity still pulls our elevator inhabitant toward Earth, she's floating inside the elevator! The effects of Earth's gravity on an orbiting spacecraft are slightly more complicated, but the theory is the same. The spacecraft and the astronauts are falling together, so the astronauts float.
The resulting feeling of weightlessness makes life in orbit a challenge. The inner ear is confused by the lack of a clear
"up" direction, and there's not much to tell your eyes which way is up, either. The result: astronauts often experience space motion sickness. Also, we've designed our everyday lives here on Earth to take advantage of gravity, and adjustments must be made in orbit. There's no real dining room on the Space Shuttle, for example – instead, the astronauts just strap a tray to their legs. Modern astronauts eat fairly normal meals (not just dehydrated foods), and food can be eaten fairly easily with a fork, knife and spoon. However, astronauts must be careful not to make any sudden movements that might send the food flying! And, of course, an astronaut toilet differs from an earth-based toilet, since there's no pull from gravity to guide wastes into the proper place. Instead, space toilets use air flow from a gentle suction to make sure wastes end up where they're supposed to.
So how do I become an astronaut?
 NASA is accepting applications for its Astronaut Candidate Program. Applicants must be in excellent physical condition, have a bachelor's degree in engineering, math or science (although advanced degrees are preferred) and three years of related experience.
"Pilot" astronauts must also have 1,000 hours flying aircraft and need better vision than the mission specialist astronauts. Occasionally a
"non astronaut" may be selected; this person is called a payload specialist and may have advanced specializations that are required for a particular project. For more information, check the web sites below or write the Astronaut Selection Office, NASA Johnson space Center, Houston TX 77058
Astronaut Facts
- Current spacesuits are composed of twelve layers, each one for a specialized purpose!
- A spacesuit (without an astronaut but including the backpack) weighs approximately 280 pounds on Earth.
- The side of a spacesuit facing the Sun may be as hot as 250°F. At the same time, the other side (which receives no sunlight) can reach temperatures as cold as –250°F.
- On the Space Shuttle, it takes about 8 ½ minutes to reach space, from liftoff to orbit.
- Dr. Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest time spent in space: 418 days on the Russian Space Station Mir.
- John Glenn was the first person to eat in space. The first food: applesauce from an aluminum tube in April, 1962.
Astronaut Web Sites
www.chabotspace.org/vsc/exhibits/ws/atc
More about Astronaut Training Camp at Chabot Space & Science Center, with activities you can do at home
lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/kids/L&W/livework.htm
Lots of information about living and working in space
www.jsc.nasa.gov/pao/factsheets/nasapubs/food.html
Everything you ever wanted to know about space food
www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/jobs/astronauts/astronauts.htm
Details on becoming an astronaut
www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/qanda.html
Questions and answers about space flight
weboflife.arc.nasa.gov/wol_content/spacesuit/suit.html
Some compelling reasons to wear a spacesuit
www.jsc.nasa.gov/pao/factsheets/nasapubs/wardrobe.html
More spacesuit information
www.jsc.nasa.gov/pao/factsheets/factsheets/9508001.html
Living in the Space Shuttle
Images courtesy of
NASA
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