Some Insane Things Astronauts Have to Do
Sleep Through Several Sunrises Every Night.On Earth, we are naturally accustomed to a 24-hour day: sleep when the sun sets and wake when it rises. But in space, the sun can rise and set up to 16 times a day, requiring astronauts to “train their minds and bodies to maintain a 24-hour circadian rhythm,” as Hanneke Weltering writes for Space. This requires astronauts to set designated sleep and wake times, lighting instructions, and more, all in the name of sane and sound sleep.
See Flashing Lights—Even With Their Eyes Closed.Dating back to the fabled launches of 1969, astronauts have reported seeing strange flashing lights, even when their eyes were shut. Some call it “fairy lights,” others call it “fireworks in your eyeballs,” but they’re believed to be cosmic rays that can pass through the eyelids of astronauts. It may look neat, but it probably doesn’t help space rangers sleep any better.
Dodge Sweat Balls. Since they have to work out more than usual (usually around two hours a day), astronauts also tend to sweat quite a bit in space, which, due to gravity, can produce floating balls of sweat that they have to tackle with a towel. Rather than rolling down their face, beads of sweat just cling to astronauts in salty blobs unless they do something about it. And to see if you’re cognitively capable of being an astronaut.
Tie Themselves Down to Sleep.Without gravity, astronauts could sleep on the ceiling if they like. But due to safety concerns—and to avoid disorientation or phantom phantom limb (yes, you can have fake feelings of amputation)—astronauts generally prefer to tether themselves to a wall inside a sleeping bag.
Stop Crying. Whether they’re feeling emotional or just have a bit of dust in their eyes (though where’d the dust come from in space?), astronauts will find that tears don’t roll down their cheeks but instead just stay right there in their eyes. Apparently, it stings. A lot.
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