What Equipment Is Needed for Space Travel?


What Equipment Is Needed for Space Travel?

It takes a lot of effort and work for a person to become an astronaut. Astronauts train for a mission for years to be as prepared as possible for the conditions prevailing in space. The universe is quite inhospitable to humans and the conditions in it are deadly if you don’t have the right equipment. A person without proper equipment would die from a lack of oxygen in just a few seconds. If a person somehow survives without oxygen, it would be killed by strong radiation. For an astronaut to be safe in space, he needs the appropriate equipment. What equipment exactly is needed for space travel?

Astronauts in space need food, spacesuits, clothes, hygiene items, sleeping bags and flight tools. Equipment is necessary for survival in space and a safe return to Earth. In addition to the equipment, the space shuttle is designed to provide astronauts with oxygen, appropriate temperatures and conditions that allow life in space.

For the astronaut to have all the necessary equipment, preparations for the mission begin several months before the mission, sometimes even a year before. A special team is in charge of equipping the space shuttle with all the equipment that astronauts need in space. The team procures the equipment, checks it, stores it in a specific way and then transports it to the space shuttle. More than 6,500 pounds of equipment is loaded on the shuttle for every mission.

List of equipment that astronauts need in space 

  1. Food

In the beginnings of space travel, astronauts had a rather limited menu. They ate freeze-dried powders and thick liquids stuffed in aluminum tubes. The astronauts agreed that the food was tasteless and they did not like squeezing food out of the tube. Food packaging soon changed and astronauts ate food from plastic containers such as shrimp cocktails, chicken, vegetables and pudding. By the time of the Appolo program, astronauts were already able to choose for themselves what to eat, and food quality had indeed improved. 

Today, astronauts can try food eight months before the flight and decide what they like from food and drink. Astronauts are given information about their diet plan so they can make their personal preference menu as good as possible. Five months before the flight, the astronauts choose their menu. The menu is then reviewed by nutritionists and the necessary changes are made to ensure that each meal has the correct nutritional value. Menu is sent to the Flight Equipment Processing Contractor in Houston three months before the flight, and then the food is packed and stored in the Shuttle lockers. 

For Extravehicular activity or spacewalk, astronauts are equipped with food and drink for 8 hours. Also, astronauts are equipping themselves with Safe Heaven Food in spacecraft. Safe Heaven Food is a supply of food that is sufficient for crew members for 22 days in the event of a sudden breakdown or unexpected problems during a mission. All foods can last two years without opening, and the food will provide at least 2,000 calories a day per person. 

  1. Clothing 

Inside the Space Shuttle, astronauts wear the same clothes they would wear on Earth. Since the temperature and living conditions in the space shuttle are adapted to people, there is no need to spend all the time in an uncomfortable spacesuit. Astronauts choose the clothes they will wear before launch. Often these clothes have the logo of the mission they are going on. 

Unlike the astronauts of the International Space Station who change their clothes approximately every 10 days, the astronauts in the space shuttle carry clothes for each day of the mission. Astronauts can choose between pants and shorts, long-sleeved or short-sleeved T-shirts, and sweaters and pullovers. The pants have many pockets so astronauts can store things they use constantly so they don’t float around the space shuttle.

During launch and landing, astronauts wear orange Launch and Entry Suits. These suits are designed to allow a positive air pressure around the astronaut in the event of a pressure leak so that it can successfully return to Earth in the event of an emergency landing. The suits contain an oxygen system, parachute, drinking water, smoke flare, beacon and other things that can help the astronaut survive in the event of an accident. 

Russian astronauts use a white Russian Sokol suit that functions as Launch and Entry Suits.

  1. Flight tools 

Astronauts must have suitable tools to work in and out of the space shuttle. Astronauts have a toolbox so they don’t have to carry things in their hands. The tools are very similar to those used on Earth but are adapted to the conditions in space to make astronauts perform their tasks as easily as possible. 

For example, a commercial infrared camera used for scanning tiles for cracks was adapted to space conditions and is now used to find cracks. Whenever possible, engineers try to adapt tools from Earth to space conditions to make their job easier. 

  1. Hygiene supplies 

Just as it is important to maintain hygiene on Earth, it is also important to maintain it in space. Astronauts, therefore, have their personal hygiene kit that includes toothbrushes, soaps, shampoos and razors. Hygiene in space, however, is maintained a little differently than on Earth. 

There is no showering in space, at least not with water. Astronauts shower with a sponge or cloth. They wash their hair with rinseless shampoo, and soaps that wash their hands regularly work in the same way. After washing your hair or showering, they simply wipe it with a dry towel and they are clean. If they want to clean themselves they can use alcohol or use a wet towel containing liquid soap. 

To wet your toothbrush you need to squeeze the water out of the tank onto the top of the straw and then wet the classic toothbrush with a drop of water located on top of the straw before it escapes. After that, they put toothpaste produced on Earth on the toothbrush, and then brush their teeth. The astronaut then swallows the toothpaste and then rinses his mouth with the water.

  1. Sleeping bag and restraints

The astronauts in the space shuttle sleep in sleeping bags. The sleeping bag is usually located in the crew cabin. Since there is no up or down in space, and astronauts are weightless, they can sleep anywhere. The bags can be attached to the walls, floor, ceiling. Wherever the bag is, the person will not feel the difference when they enter it.

The astronaut enters the sleeping bag and only his hands remain outside. During sleep, the astronaut’s hands float above him and the astronaut looks quite bizarre, a bit like a sleeping zombie. In order not to be bothered by light, astronauts have sleeping pads. They also often use earplugs. When you are in a space shuttle you are constantly surrounded by loud engine sounds, electricity, vents or similar sounds so if you have a light sleep it is recommended to wear earplugs.

In the space shuttle astronauts can also sleep in the commander’s seat, the pilot’s seat or bunk beds.

  1. The spacesuit 

The spacesuit is made in a way to allow the astronaut as safe conditions in space as possible. To make the suit truly and enable it is made up of several parts each of which has a well thought out purpose and design. A space suit for an astronaut is not just clothing, but also a small spacecraft that allows the astronaut everything he needs in harsh conditions in the universe.

The official name of the spacesuit is Extravehicular Mobility Unit where Extravehicular literally means outside the vehicle, in this case outside spacecraft. The spacesuit provides astronaut protection. It protects it from low temperatures, but also from very high ones. It allows them to breathe by giving them oxygen that is not in the vacuum. It also gives them water so they don’t dehydrate during the spacewalk. Suits prevent injuries that can occur from space dust and protect them from radiation that is very high in space.

Parts of the Space Suit Assembly are:

• Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment

The suit is used to remove body heat in environments where cooling through sweating or open-air cooling does not work. Inside the suit, cold water circulates through tubes that are in direct contact with the skin. 

• The Hard Upper Torso

The Hard Upper Torso (HUT) is the part of the spacesuit that covers the astronaut’s chest. The HUT is made of the fiberglass shell. This part is the main and most important part of the spacesuit as it serves to seal the air pressure inside the astronaut department so that it can reside in space.

• The Arm Assembly

It covers the astronaut’s hands and ties them with gloves.

• Glove Assembly

It covers the astronaut’s wrists and fingers. The gloves have built-in heat regulators that control finger temperatures. The gloves have loops that help to restrain small tools and equipment.

• The Helmet

Helmet Assembly is a transparent closed helmet. A special part called the Extravehicular visor Assembly is added to the helmet that serves to protect the astronaut from shock when the environment changes, intense sunlight and very high radiation.

• The Lower Torso Assembly

The lower part is the spacesuit that connects to the HUT. It covers legs and allows walking. Boots are finally added to the LTA and the suit is complete.

How do astronauts get supplies in space? 

When astronauts go on a mission in a space shuttle, the space shuttle has all the equipment that the astronauts will need during the mission. Because missions work in such a way that a space shuttle goes to a specific location, performs a mission, and then returns to Earth, once they leave Earth, astronauts depend on the equipment inside the space shuttle.

The situation is different for astronauts doing their missions at the International Space Station. Since they sometimes live in it for several years, for example, Peggy Whitson spent 665 days in space, they need to be constantly equipped with food and other necessities. Six internationals work in the international team at the International Space Station.

When astronauts go to Space Station they are given equipment that will be sufficient for them for a certain amount of time. If they are missing something, they report the necessary equipment to the Mission Center and then wait for the next delivery of equipment. Equipment is delivered eight to nine times a year, approximately every 40 to 45 days at irregular intervals.

Cargo spacecraft is equipped with food, fuel, experimental equipment and the necessary additional parts. It comes to the International Space Station and docks on it. When all the equipment is taken out of it, garbage and equipment that is no longer needed on the board are put into it. Cargo spacecraft eventually undock and bring everything to Earth.

How much water does an astronaut need per day?

Have you heard the advice to drink 8 glasses of water a day? Scientists have determined that the ideal amount of water for men is 3.7 liters while for women it is 2.7 liters. At least that’s what they need on Earth. 

In space, however, the situation is a little different. 1.62 kilograms of water per person each day is enough for astronauts in space. If you find it easier, it is 0.43 gallons of water per person. On the space shuttle, water can be produced from fuel cells by combining hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity. When the atoms combine, in addition to electricity, water is formed which is then recycled and used for drinking. 

The situation at the International Space Station is a little different. Transporting water into space is extremely expensive so the International Space Station cannot be constantly equipped with water tanks. The International Space Station does not use fuels to produce electricity, but energy is produced using solar panels. Small amounts of water can be recycled from cabin air. This means filtering their shower water, sweat and pee. Astronauts, therefore, have very limited water supplies, more precisely, they are limited to consuming approximately 11 liters per day. In case of emergency, they have 530 gallons of water in reserve. 

In space you drink water from small pouches with straw attachments that prevent water from pouring out. The straws have a screw that can turn to open so that the astronaut can drink from it.

What food do astronauts eat in space? 

The food that astronauts have on their daily menu is chosen based on their nutritional value and their applicability to use in space. These are mostly frozen, refrigerated and ambient foods. Astronauts have three meals. At Space Station, they even have a ram where they can reheat their meals. Some dishes can be consumed in natural forms, for example, cookies and fruit, while water must be added to other dishes.

They eat fresh food that is produced that can last on the shelves for two days. These are mostly fruits and vegetables that are eaten quickly to avoid spoilage. In recent years, astronauts at the International Space Station have begun planting their own plants in the Vegetable Production System, also known as Veggie. The astronauts managed to plant cabbage, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, kale and some flowers there. No harmful contamination has been detected and the food is great to eat.

In addition to fresh food, astronauts also eat irradiated food, meat and dairy products on which ionizing radiation is applied before packaging. In this way, the possibility of storage is extended and microbial contamination is prevented. The only irradiated product on the shuttle is the beef steak.

Intermediate moisture food is a type of food that has little water in it and can be stored on shelves for a long time without spoiling. This method can be applied to fruit, but also meat, so dried peaches, apricots or dried beef are examples of this type of food.

Ready meals such as mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, chicken and rice are consumed as rehydratable food. It is a food to which water is added before use to make it edible. This way of preparing food and drinks is very often used to prepare meals in space.

The astronauts also have ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. Condiments include individual packages of mustard, taco sauce and hot pepper sauce. Salt and pepper are also consumed in such packages. They must be in a liquid state because otherwise, their grains would just fly away. There is also a risk of getting stuck in air vents or other equipment.

In space, muscle mass and bone density can be significantly reduced, by up to 20%. To reduce the decline, astronauts exercise every day and have a lot of calcium-rich foods in their diet, such as yogurt, but nowadays they also plant kale themselves.

During a meal, astronauts eat from a meal tray which can be attached to astronauts’ lap or the wall. The tray holds food packages in place and keeps them from floating away. Astronauts use a fork, spoon and knife, as well as scissors, to open food packages. Eating utensils and trays after a meal is cleaned and ready for reuse. A meal in space is actually quite similar to a meal on Earth.

Source:

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/F_Food_for_Space_Flight.html

https://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/everydaylife/jamestown-needs-fs.html

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/146558main_RecyclingEDA(final)%204_10_06.pdf

https://www.nasa.gov/content/growing-plants-in-space

https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/factsheets/food.html

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