International Space Station: A Closer Look
In 2021, a software glitch caused the thrusters of the International Space Station (ISS) to fire, resulting in a 540-degree flip. This unprecedented event led a NASA flight director to declare a spacecraft emergency. But before we delve into the details, let's start with some key facts about the ISS.
Key Facts
The ISS was launched on November 20, 1998, with the Russian module called Zarya being the first component. This was followed by the US module, Unity, and several other modules from different countries.
The ISS is a collaborative project involving Russia, the US, Canada, Japan, and various countries from the European Space Agency.
It measures approximately 357 feet in length (108 meters), similar to the size of a football pitch.
The ISS orbits around 250 miles (400km) above Earth, moving at a speed of 17,500 mph (28,163 kph) and completing an orbit every 90 minutes.
It is visible from Earth and can be easily spotted as the third brightest object in the sky. NASA has a website called "Spot the Station" to help locate it.
Astronauts first inhabited the ISS on November 2, 2000. Initially, their tasks involved unpacking and assembling critical components.
Life on the ISS
Life on the ISS is not without its challenges. Astronauts undergo quarantine on Earth before their space journey to ensure they are not sick or carrying any illnesses. Once on the ISS, they may experience common ailments like colds, respiratory infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.
Despite the absence of a doctor on board, astronauts receive basic medical training and have access to essential medical supplies. In most cases, antibiotics are used to treat infections. However, bacterial infections are more dangerous in microgravity, and antibiotics are less effective in space.
The disposal of waste, including urine and feces, is also a crucial aspect of life on the ISS. To prevent contamination, astronauts use a specialized toilet system that collects and separates waste. Urine is recycled, while solid waste is stored and later disposed of during cargo ship reentries.
Facilities on the ISS
The ISS features two bathrooms, one gym, and six sleeping quarters. Astronauts are required to exercise for at least two hours daily to counteract the effects of zero gravity on their muscles.
To facilitate their exercise routine, astronauts utilize equipment such as bicycles and treadmills.
A specially designed weightlifting machine known as a red, aka, the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device. All three of these machines are designed to give the person a full-body workout. They don't skip leg days. Obviously, lifting weights in zero gravity wouldn't be very hard at all. But the ARED machine is designed so that astronauts can do things like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, and it will work out the muscles just like the same exercises in the real world. As for the treadmill, cords strap them to it. They ride the bicycle in a similar way, by being held to it.
37. Longest time in space
The longest time in space by a US astronaut is 342 consecutive days by Scott Kelly. The Russian astronaut, Valeri Polyakov, spent 438 consecutive days back in the day on the Russian Mir space station.
36. Transportation to ISS
From 2019, NASA astronauts will be ferried to the ISS by the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 spacecraft instead of the aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
35. Number of astronauts on ISS
In total, 244 astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists have been on the ISS.
34. Difference between astronaut and cosmonaut
There isn't really any difference between an astronaut and a cosmonaut. The former word comes from the Greek, "star sailor," and the latter word from the Greek, "universe sailor." Cosmonauts are trained in Russia and astronauts elsewhere.
33. First space tourist
In 2001, US entrepreneur Dennis Tito became the first space tourist on the ISS. He spent almost eight days up there for the cost of around $20 million. When asked about the experience, he said, "The pencils started floating in the air, and I could see the blackness of space and the curvature of the earth. I was euphoric. I mean, it was the greatest moment of my life, to achieve a life objective, and I knew then that nothing could ever beat this."
32. Weight of the ISS
The space station weighs in the region of 420,000 kg. That's about the weight of 320 cars or 70 large African elephants.
31. Most days in space
US astronaut Peggy Whitson holds the US record for most days in space, although not consecutive days. In 2017, she had spent 665 days. The top eight places all go to Russians, with Gennady Padalka coming top with 878 days under his space belt.
30. Spacewalks
The outside of the ISS needs to be fixed and added to, and upgraded. That's why there have been 241 spacewalks in total.
29. Dangers of spacewalks
Spacewalks can be dangerous, but so far, no one has ever died. Still, listen to this next story.
28. Luca Parmitano's near-drowning experience
An Italian astronaut named Luca Parmitano almost drowned in space when he went on a spacewalk in 2013. His helmet went caput, the ventilation system failed, and so water started filling inside. This is how he explained it, "It completely covered my eyes and my nose. It was really hard to see. I couldn't hear anything. It was really hard to communicate. I couldn't breathe through my nose. I felt isolated and when I tried to tell ground that I was having trouble finding my way, they couldn't hear me, and I couldn't hear them either." He got back to the craft ok in the end.
27. Danger zones during spacewalks
On spacewalks, there are some zones that astronauts have to stay away from. Remember that they are inside a totally enclosed environment. A rip in the suit would cause a rather bad day, so the danger zones are the places where their suit could get torn. But what's the very worst thing that could happen.
26. Floating off into space
The answer, of course, is just floating off into space. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said he doesn't expect this to happen, but it is his very worst fear. It likely won't ever happen to anyone since astronauts are attached to an 85ft (26 meters) braided steel tethering rope when they go on a spacewalk. But what if that somehow snapped.
