The International Space Station stands as a technological marvel and remarkable engineering achievement. Its construction, initiated in the early 1990s through collaborative efforts among various nations and space agencies, culminated in its launch in 1998. Now the largest space station ever conceived and built, the ISS serves as a platform for conducting research and experiments that are unfeasible on Earth, continually undergoing upgrades with new components.

Manning the ISS are crews that can comprise up to seven individuals. These astronauts and cosmonauts endure months in space, undergoing extensive training to ensure their ability to withstand the unique environmental challenges associated with living on the ISS. Routine tasks and bodily functions that require little thought on Earth can pose significant challenges in microgravity.

Living on the ISS proves more demanding than one might realize, as the crew copes with diverse factors as integral elements of their daily existence.

Global Collaboration on the International Space Station: A Multinational Endeavor

The name "International Space Station" implies a global initiative, not the sole possession of a single country. While NASA and Russia's Roscosmos are primary contributors, other nations, including JAXA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, play vital roles through partnerships. This collaboration is crucial, given the project's staggering $100+ billion estimated cost.

With contributors like Italy, Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Brazil (from 1997 to 2007), discussions about potential involvement from countries like China have arisen. Approximately 270 people from 21 countries have visited the ISS, fostering a multicultural environment. This diversity requires ISS occupants to be proficient in multiple languages, especially Russian and English, as NASA and Roscosmos jointly oversee various station procedures, emphasizing the importance of effective communication for safety and operational efficiency.

Extended Stays on the ISS: Astronaut Commitment and Cost Challenges

Embarking on a journey to the ISS is no small feat, demanding a substantial commitment from the crew due to extended stays. Post the Space Shuttle era, NASA relies on Soyuz spacecraft, incurring around $86 million per astronaut. Although costs may decrease with Boeing and SpaceX ventures, frequent rotations remain economically impractical.

This financial reality necessitates extended missions for ISS crews, averaging around six months according to the Kennedy Space Center. Orbiting the Earth 16 times daily, astronauts circle the planet thousands of times during their stay. Some, like Scott Kelly, spent almost a full year on the ISS, while others, such as Frank Rubio and Mark Vande Hei, had even longer missions at 371 and 355 days. Peggy Whitson holds the current U.S. record, accumulating 655 days across multiple ISS missions.

Astronaut Commitment and Cost Challenges

Embarking on a journey to the ISS is no small feat, demanding a substantial commitment from the crew due to extended stays. Post the Space Shuttle era, NASA relies on Soyuz spacecraft, incurring around $86 million per astronaut. Although costs may decrease with Boeing and SpaceX ventures, frequent rotations remain economically impractical.

This financial reality necessitates extended missions for ISS crews, averaging around six months according to the Kennedy Space Center. Orbiting the Earth 16 times daily, astronauts circle the planet thousands of times during their stay. Some, like Scott Kelly, spent almost a full year on the ISS, while others, such as Frank Rubio and Mark Vande Hei, had even longer missions at 371 and 355 days. Peggy Whitson holds the current U.S. record, accumulating 655 days across multiple ISS missions.

Inside the International Space Station: Size, Space, and Everyday Challenges

The International Space Station (ISS) may appear massive from afar, visible to the naked eye when passing over Earth. According to NASA, the ISS spans 357 feet, just a few feet shy of a standard football field, offering a livable area akin to a large six-bedroom house, complete with seven sleeping quarters and two bathrooms.

However, the apparent roominess is deceiving. Accounting for equipment and storage, the total living space on the ISS is slightly over 10,000 cubic feet, rendering most areas cramped — not ideal for those with claustrophobia. A video by Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev illustrates the challenges of living on the ISS, depicting the crew navigating through tight spaces, often resorting to crawling or maneuvering through small openings.

Zero Gravity Challenges: The High-Tech Toilet System on the ISS

Completing even the simplest tasks becomes a complex affair on the ISS, and using the toilet is no exception. Microgravity on the station makes traditional toilets ineffective, posing potential hazards. To tackle this, NASA invested $23 million in a sophisticated vacuum toilet. This system, tailored for both male and female astronauts, includes a funnel hose for urination, ensuring liquid is immediately suctioned away. For defecation, astronauts use a sealing seat, activating suction to eliminate waste and prevent odors. Special bins are designated for disposing of wipes, paper, and gloves used in the process.

Spacewater Savings: Recycling on the ISS

Sending anything to the ISS is costly, with heavier payloads requiring more fuel, escalating expenses. NASA's contracts with SpaceX and Orbital Science for cargo delivery exceeded $1 billion each. The price per pound for transporting goods can surpass $10,000, emphasizing the need for water recycling to save costs and optimize cargo space.

While Russian crew members on the ISS don't recycle urine, NASA and allied astronauts recover up to 98% of urine's water content, yielding 6,000 liters annually. This process, facilitated by the Environmental Control and Life Support System, involves a vacuum system extracting water from urine, air, and crew sweat through dehumidifiers. Purified with added iodine, the resulting water is confirmed by astronauts to taste like standard bottled water, requiring only an adjustment to the idea that it originates from urine and other sources.

Space Dining Challenges: Food, Crumbs, and Flavors on the ISS

Beyond drinking and restroom needs, the crew's health on the ISS hinges on their food consumption. Microgravity makes eating tricky, as crumbs can float away, posing risks to the living space and equipment. Certain foods, like bread, are prohibited due to crumb production, and meals are typically freeze-dried to reduce weight and spoilage.

Special containers with Velcro or magnets secure packaged meals, preventing them from floating. Common foods include soup, tortillas, nuts, candy, and granola bars (opened with scissors). Taste is affected by microgravity-induced congestion, making flavors harder to discern and often leading to perceived blandness. To counter this, crew members opt for meals with stronger flavors to enhance the dining experience.

Precision Schedules: A Day in the Life of ISS Crew

The ISS crew's time is meticulously planned, with days scheduled in five-minute increments by NASA's Ops Planner. From wake-up to bedtime, the crew adheres to a predetermined timetable, optimizing their limited time on the station.

With up to six crew members utilizing the confined space and equipment, NASA crafts routines that efficiently allocate astronauts' time. Every aspect, from meals to workouts, is planned to ensure astronauts can fulfill various research projects and experiments, including spacewalks for maintenance. Notably, astronauts like Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer engage in diverse research during their ISS stays, exploring topics from cancer treatments to the impact of microgravity on astronauts' eyes, installing equipment to measure cosmic rays, and contributing to stem cell growth research in space.

Sleep Challenges in Space: Gravity, Quarters, and Tethers on the ISS

Sleep, a fundamental bodily function, becomes notably challenging in outer space due to the absence of gravity on the ISS, far from Earth's gravitational pull. Unable to lie on a bed like on Earth, astronauts sleep in specially designed quarters about the size of a phone booth. Inside, they secure themselves in sleeping bags and tether to the wall to prevent floating, a potential hazard for both the station and themselves. Velcro helps keep their heads on tethered cushions. Adjusting to this unique sleeping experience, devoid of blankets and pillows, can be a significant adaptation for astronauts, as noted by retired astronaut Scott Kelly.

ISS's Sonic Environment: Noise Challenges and Ear Protection

Weighing over 400 tons and packed with essential equipment, the ISS operates with a constant background noise. Former astronaut Thomas Jones mentioned early crews wore ear protection to prevent hearing damage. Recent upgrades have reduced the noise to a more acceptable level, though it can still be distracting. Crew members now sleep in soundproofed quarters at night to give their ears a chance to rest, and regular audiometer tests help detect any hearing changes before permanent damage occurs.