Astronaut Life

DNA-Inspired Cancer Research and Human Health Studies Complete Busy Week Aboard the International Space Station in 2026

DNA-Inspired Cancer Research and Human Health Studies Complete Busy Week Aboard the International Space Station in 2206 The crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) wrapped up another…

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01 // Incoming

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02 // Priority

Mission highlights

03 // 10 reports

Lunar Technology

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Comms // Reader questions

Frequently asked

What do astronauts eat in space?

Astronauts eat a varied menu of thermostabilized pouches, freeze-dried meals rehydrated with water, tortillas instead of bread, nuts, and fresh fruit delivered by cargo ships. Salt and pepper come in liquid form so loose grains don't drift into vents and equipment. Crews can add hot sauce and personal bonus foods to make meals feel more like home.

How do astronauts sleep on the International Space Station?

Each astronaut has a small private crew quarters about the size of a phone booth, with a sleeping bag tethered to the wall so they don't drift. Because there's no "up" in microgravity, orientation doesn't matter. Crews get about eight and a half hours for sleep, often using eye masks and earplugs against the station's constant fan noise.

What is an exoplanet and how are they found?

An exoplanet is any planet orbiting a star other than our Sun. NASA has confirmed more than 6,000 of them. Most are found by the transit method, spotting a star's light dip as a planet passes in front, or by radial velocity, measuring the tiny wobble a planet's gravity gives its star.

Can humans actually live on the Moon?

Yes, but not easily. Settlers would need shielding from radiation and micrometeorites, protection from temperatures swinging roughly 250 degrees Celsius, and power through two-week lunar nights. NASA's Artemis program targets the lunar south pole, where water ice in shadowed craters could supply drinking water, oxygen and rocket fuel for longer stays.

How long do astronauts stay in space on one mission?

A standard International Space Station expedition lasts about six months. Some missions run longer: NASA's Frank Rubio spent a U.S.-record 371 days in orbit after his return capsule sprang a leak, and cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the overall record of about 437 days aboard Mir. Artemis lunar missions, by contrast, last days or weeks.