Life in Orbit: How Astronauts Live, Work, and Survive on the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is humanity’s permanent outpost in low-Earth orbit, about 400 kilometers above our planet. It is the size of a football field, traveling at an astonishing 28,000 km/h (7.7 km/s), completing one orbit every 90 minutes. Since November 2000, the ISS has been continuously inhabited, making it one of the most remarkable international collaborations in history.
1. Who Owns the ISS?
The ISS is a joint project, not owned by a single nation. It was built and is operated by five space agencies:
1. NASA (United States), 2. Roscosmos (Russia), 3. JAXA (Japan), 4. ESA (European Space Agency) and 5. CSA (Canadian Space Agency)
The first module, Zarya, was launched in 1998, and more sections have been added over time. NASA ISS Image Gallery
2. Which Countries Have Sent Astronauts?
So far, astronauts from 20 nations have flown to the ISS. These include the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada, and many European countries. Others, such as Malaysia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, have sent astronauts through collaboration.
3. What About China?
China is not part of the ISS. Instead, it has its own orbital station called Tiangong (“Heavenly Palace”), built from 2021 onward. Tiangong is smaller than the ISS and currently accommodates three astronauts (or “taikonauts”). At present, it is a Chinese-only mission, though future international cooperation is possible.
China’s Tiangong Overview (BBC)
4. Zero Gravity and Human Health
Living in microgravity has profound effects:
Short-term: Fluid shifts to the head (“puffy face, skinny legs”), nausea, disorientation. Long-term: Muscle loss, bone thinning (osteoporosis), heart weakening, vision changes, slower wound healing.
Astronauts must exercise at least 2 hours daily on treadmills, bikes, and resistance machines to stay healthy.
Canadian Space Agency: Health in Space
5. Is There a Doctor on Board?
The ISS usually has no full-time doctor, but at least one astronaut is trained in medical procedures. They have a well-equipped medical kit and can consult doctors on Earth by telemedicine.
For emergencies, the crew can return in docked spacecraft such as Soyuz or SpaceX Crew Dragon within hours.
6. Fire Safety on the ISS
Fire is one of the greatest dangers in space. The ISS has:
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
Emergency masks
If a fire occurs, astronauts shut down ventilation, isolate the module, and prepare for evacuation.
7. Food, Water, and Oxygen
Food: Mostly freeze-dried or vacuum-packed. No frying or baking is possible in microgravity. Meals are rehydrated with water and sometimes heated. CSA: Space Food
Water: Produced by recycling sweat, breath condensation, and urine. The Water Recovery System recycles up to 90% of all water.Oxygen: Generated by splitting water molecules via electrolysis. Backups include oxygen tanks and chemical oxygen generators.
8. Hygiene and Waste Management
Bathing: No showers. Astronauts use wet towels, rinseless wipes, and leave-in shampoos.
Toilets: Airflow replaces gravity to move waste. Urine is filtered into drinking water. Solid waste is sealed, stored, and later burns up in Earth’s atmosphere inside disposable cargo capsules. CSA: Space Toilet9. Sleep in Space
Astronauts sleep in small private crew cabins, zipped into sleeping bags attached to the wall, so they don’t float around.
10. Entertainment and Communication
Astronauts have laptops, video calls with family, movies, music, and e-books. They don’t receive live TV, but NASA uploads news and shows regularly.
11. Life at 28,000 km/h
The ISS completes 16 orbits per day. Astronauts therefore see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every 24 hours.
NASA Spot the Station as it goes round and round earth
12. Stars, Astronomy, and Earth Views
From orbit, stars and the Milky Way shine brilliantly, unfiltered by the atmosphere. But sunlight reflected from Earth often makes stargazing difficult. Astronauts regularly photograph Earth’s weather, cities, auroras, and natural phenomena.
13. Duration of Missions
Most astronauts stay 6 months, though some remain for up to a year. Crews are transported by SpaceX Crew Dragon or Soyuz spacecraft, which also bring them back.
14. Altitude and Lifespan of the ISS
The ISS orbits at 370–420 km. Periodic “reboosts” keep it from falling due to atmospheric drag. Current plans expect it to remain in service until 2030 after which it may be replaced by a commercial station for tourists
15. Religion in Space: The Muslim Astronaut Question
Muslim astronauts face the challenge of prayer in orbit, where sunrise and sunset occur every 90 minutes. Islamic scholars have ruled that astronauts may follow Earth-based prayer times, either from the launch site (e.g., Baikonur, Kazakhstan) or aligned with Mecca, rather than using orbital sunrises.
16. Additional Fascinating Points
The ISS is the largest human-made structure in orbit. It weighs about 420 tons. A constant hum of fans, pumps, and computers fills the station , silence is rare.
Astronauts sometimes report a faint “metallic” smell from the airlock after spacewalks, thought to be from atomic oxygen reacting with metal surfaces.
For a virtual tour of the ISS:
👉 NASA 360° Virtual Tour
Life on the ISS is a mix of science, discipline, adaptation, and wonder. It demands resilience, teamwork, and creativity, as astronauts adjust to a world without gravity. Yet it also offers one of the most breathtaking perspectives ever known: a view of Earth as a fragile blue planet suspended in the vastness of space.
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