Living in space presents some unexpected and interesting realities. During one day on the International Space Station, the sun rises and sets 16 times, as the station zips around Earth every 90 minutes at 17,500 miles per hour. NASA astronaut Christina Koch has spent almost a year on the space station, adjusting to life in microgravity in ways most of us will never understand. When Koch returns to Earth on Feb. 6, she will need to reacclimate.
In these videos, Koch shared her most memorable moments during her time living and working aboard the International Space Station. Now she shares her thoughts about what she is looking forward to and the challenges she expects to face readapting after 328 days in space.
Weight and Balance
“Forty-one years old and almost one full year of my life I’ve spent orbiting the Earth. I’ve forgotten how much things weigh, how much effort it takes to move just my arms and legs in opposition to gravity. We use professional cameras with massive lenses on the International Space Station – we spin them, we flip them, we let them go and they float. It takes no effort whatsoever. I anticipate being surprised at how heavy things are on the ground after 328 days living in microgravity.
“But weight won’t be the biggest issue. We have a machine on the space station we use for resistance training to keep us strong. I think the most physically shocking readjustment will be balance. On Earth we rely on our eyes and inner ear to maintain stability. On orbit, without gravity pulling down, the mind quickly stops listening to the inner ear. The eyes take over … we rely solely on visual cues. From what I’ve been told, it takes a couple days after landing for the mind to start listening again. The human body’s ability to adapt to its environment is nothing less than impressive.
“Goal: Standing and walking on my own by L+2 (landing, plus two days)!”
Sleep
“Most people seem to suffer from tossing and turning while they sleep, unable to find the perfect position to get through the night. Well I found it! Floating in a sleeping bag!
“Sleep in space has been some of the most restful I’ve ever had – no hotspots, no tossing, no turning, never too hot or too cold. I just float in my body’s natural position. How will I sleep when I return to Earth? Will I sleep on my stomach, my back, my side? Will the firmness of the mattress matter more-so than it ever has before? And what about sleeping next to someone in a bed? I’ve been floating in a bag by myself for 327 nights. Hopefully my husband doesn’t kick me to the couch!”
Environment
“Oh, how I miss the wind on my face, the feeling of raindrops, sand on my feet and the sound of the surf crashing on the Galveston beach. We take daily sensory inputs for granted until they are absent. The environmental inputs on the space station consist mostly of the constant hum of the ventilation system. It stirs the air, allowing the purification system to scrub and clean our atmosphere so it’s breathable. While some places on the space station are as loud as a lawn mower, others are as quiet as the vacuum of space. I cannot wait to feel and hear Earth again.”
Fragrance
“Sweet smells.
“To be honest, there is nothing on the space station that smells pleasant, other than maybe veggie science. Yes, the ISS smells like a lab, a gym, a house that six people live in together for months at a time. Scented lotions/soaps/shampoos are prohibited because they contain chemicals that affect the systems that clean our air. And, of course, an open flame is a bad idea, so no candles.
“There is the unique smell of space. After repressurization, anytime we open a hatch that has been exposed to the outside, there is a distinctive smell. To me it smells like rusted metal – a scent that will evoke vivid memories for years to come.
“My appreciation of sweet smells – fresh-cut grass, salt water in the air, coconut, lavender, burning candles – should be a pretty easy readjustment.”
Shower
“’Showering’ in space is not really showering as we know it on Earth. We rehydrate a towel that contains soap, and we use that towel for two days – two showers. The towel we dry off with lasts a week, and we “wash” our hair with no-rinse shampoo. When water hits your skin on orbit it just sits there. I look forward to my first, real hot shower in 11-plus months. The sensation of water running off my fingertips. I forget what that feels like.”
Clothes
“I’m going to have to do laundry!
“On the space station, we wear our clothes until they need to be thrown away – underwear, two days; workout clothes and socks, a week; t-shirts, two weeks; pants, a month. Once we have outworn an item, we throw it in the trash, pack the trash on a cargo vehicle, and watch it burn up on re-entry.
“Oh, and there are NOT a lot of choices in outfits. Once I’m home, I’ll have to pick out clothes daily, decide what to wear based on the weather outside, and wash and fold my own laundry. This will be a REAL adjustment! “
Food
“On orbit we eat with a spoon, one spoon. 328 days with the same spoon. It might just be my most valuable possession on orbit. Everything is in a packet – steak, pasta, coffee. We either drink it through a straw or cut it open and eat it with a spoon. We rehydrate most of the 200 different items on the menu, and while that seems like a lot of options, those exact same options are presented every week. I’ve been on orbit for 47 weeks.
“Some of us get creative, inventing strange food combinations – a cracker with rehydrated cocktail shrimp and sauce. We also develop techniques to spice things up; I use a syringe to inject coconut oil into my coffee drink bag.
“Bottom line – it’s been a while since I’ve used a knife and fork.”
Choice
“Food leads me to choice. As I approach the end of my spaceflight mission, I am starting to realize how much choice I will have when I return. For the last several years, in training and on orbit, my schedule has been prescribed, minute-by-minute, my food limited, clothes chosen months in advance. Shopping in a grocery or department store seems like a daunting task.
“Choice can be paralyzing.”
Time
“Time on Earth has marched on without me. I’ve missed anniversaries, birthdays, funerals, graduations, holidays. While I’ve tried to stay in touch with family and friends, the space station is not only physically isolating, but living on this orbiting lab is also an exclusive experience that I know I’ll spend a lifetime trying to explain. What has changed with the passage of time? How long will it take to re-integrate into everyday life with my family and friends, to be an actual presence in their lives and not just a voice from space? What exciting surprises await?”
Perspective
“Earth is alive, and I have witnessed its power and beauty from a special vantage point 250 miles above the surface. From the space station we see no borders, no boundaries – we are all part of one giant organism that breathes and adapts. I have been in awe of this perspective for almost a year now. Back on Earth I anticipate looking up and seeing the space station streak across the sky, wondering how my friends and colleagues are doing up there without me. For almost 20 years humans have continuously lived and worked in space and the mission continues.
“Of note, the Moon looks the same from orbit as it does from Earth. It is a common point of reference for us all and offers a common interest as we strive to return to its surface.”
You can join Koch in looking up to see the International Space Station streak across the sky when it is visible at dawn or dusk. The third brightest object in the night sky, it is visible to the naked eye and easy to spot if you know when to look up. And you can sign up for text or email alerts to Spot the Station when it passes over your home.Last Updated: Feb. 3, 2020
Editor: Mark Garcia
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