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Review
Have you ever wondered how you'd be showering and doing laundry if you lived on a space station? This is probably a question that a lot of people are interested in space exploration. After all, our daily Xi on the ground may not apply in space.
Astronauts take a bath
On the space station, bathing is a big challenge. You may think that with water, you can shower or soak as comfortably as you do on earth.
But in space, water behaves completely differently. Since there is no gravity, the water does not fall along the way, but instead gathers into floating droplets, forming clumps of water balls.
Trying to spray water with a shower head will result in droplets flying around, splashing into your eyes, nose or even mouth, and even damaging your device.
If you want to try soaking in the bathtub, the water wraps around your body and makes you feel like you can't breathe, as if you are suffocating. Therefore, in the space station, bathing with water is not only impossible, but also extremely dangerous.
So, how do astronauts maintain their personal hygiene? Can they just reluctantly accept being dirty? Of course not. Although they can't enjoy water showers, they have other ways to cleanse their bodies and shampoo their hair.
Although not as comfortable as on Earth, it is essential for them. In order to complete the space mission, they have the courage to accept such hardships, and this spirit of sacrifice is worthy of our admiration and Xi.
Bathing in space isn't that simple, but astronauts have a few ways to cope:
Using wet wipes or shower caps is the most common and convenient way. Astronauts use wipes or shower caps that contain cleansing and antibacterial ingredients to wipe their bodies and wash their hair without rinsing with water.
Spending 15 to 20 minutes a day wiping your body in this way is easy and convenient, but it doesn't do a thorough cleansing and lacks a refreshing feeling.
You can also use a sprayer and absorbent cloth, which is a bit more advanced and close to the usual bathing on earth. Astronauts spray water and detergent with a sprayer and dry it with an absorbent cloth. Comparatively, this cleanses the body more thoroughly and allows you to feel the touch of water.
However, you need to be careful to control the force and direction of the water spray to avoid getting water everywhere. It is also necessary to use an absorbent cloth to absorb the water droplets in time to avoid water retention affecting the environmental control of the space station. Although it uses less water, this method still consumes water, and although the water is recycled, it also increases the cost of running the space station.
Astronauts do laundry
We already know how astronauts bathe in space, but how do astronauts wash their clothes in space? This question may make many people curious, after all, astronauts also have to change their clothes in the space station, otherwise it will affect their health and comfort.
However, in space, water is very precious and clothes cannot be washed with water and washing machines, as on the ground. So, how did astronauts solve this problem?
Throwing it away without washing it is the most common method on the space station, and although it is the simplest, it is also the most wasteful. Dirty or torn clothes worn by astronauts in space are transported to the space station by cargo spacecraft, where they are disposed of as garbage after use.
The clothes end up in abandoned cargo ships or other junk, are incinerated when they re-enter the atmosphere, or float forever in space as space junk.
The advantage of this method is that it is simple, does not require any washing equipment and water resources, and does not produce wastewater. However, this practice is extremely wasteful, not only consuming clothing materials, but also increasing the weight and space occupied by the rocket launch.
It is estimated that NASA transports about 72.6 kilograms of clothing per astronaut per year, and the weight limit for rocket launches is very strict, requiring more fuel and thrust for each kilogram of mass added. Therefore, this approach is not sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The use of specially formulated detergents and equipment is a more advanced and environmentally friendly way, and NASA is working on developing this method. NASA has partnered with Procter & Gamble to explore the use of a specially designed "NASA Tide" custom space detergent to solve the laundry challenges in space.
Procter & Gamble has sent this detergent to the space station and conducted decontamination experiments. This detergent cleans and disinfects clothes with little or no water and is effective in microgravity.
Astronauts can use this detergent to wipe or soak their laundry, which can then be dried with an absorbent cloth or dryer. The advantages of this method are to save water resources, reduce waste generation, increase the reuse rate of clothes, and improve the quality of life of astronauts.
However, the disadvantages are the need for special detergents and equipment, and the consideration of wastewater treatment and recycling, as well as the safety and stability of detergents.
The space washer-dryer is a more advanced and closer approach to the way laundry is done on Earth, and is currently being developed by a number of commercial companies. UMPQUA has designed a microgravity-adapted space washer-dryer that cleans and dries laundry with very small amounts of water and detergent.
Astronauts simply place dirty laundry in a microwave plastic bag, which is suitable for drying laundry. Next, the laundry is washed in a vacuum using jets of water, simulating the process of soaping textile fibers.
After washing, the laundry is still in the bag and then dried using a larger microwave generator, similar to heating up lunch in the microwave.
The advantage of this method is that it cleans and dries the laundry more thoroughly, and brings some water touch and temperature changes. But the downside is that it requires more sophisticated equipment and controls, while taking care to prevent water splashes to avoid confusion and danger.
epilogue
In such a difficult environment, the astronauts showed tenacious will and dedication to the mission. They take on the challenges of living in space and overcome them with creative solutions. This spirit is not only reflected in scientific and technological innovation, but also in the rational use of resources and environmental protection.
Therefore, even in the face of the dilemma of not being able to take a bath and wash clothes, the astronauts still choose to persevere, using wisdom and perseverance to overcome these difficulties.
Their stories show us that when faced with a strong belief and creative thinking, we can all find solutions to our challenges. In the vastness of the universe, their perseverance also constantly inspires us and inspires us to face all kinds of difficulties and challenges in life.
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