…… in a galaxy very, very near by……

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SPACE

Name 3 limitations, and one strength of this model

Options:• Distance between the planets• Order of the planets• Size of the planets (relative to each other)• The planets do/do not line up like this

Obstacle #2

MICROGRAVITY

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF MICROGRAVITY ON THE BODY?

• Astronauts lose muscle mass because they do not use them due to the lesser gravity in space. To fight that, astronauts can use treadmills in space, strapped down of course. Lifting weights and sit-ups are too easy without gravity.

• They can also get taller, as the spine decompresses.

HOW DO ASTRONAUTS STAY HEALTHY AND WORK OUT?

• Astronauts must eat right and work out to avoid losing bone mass. Bicycling aboard the ISS is common. Walking is the single most important way to keep bones and muscles healthy. Because the lack of gravity tends to make people float, harnesses are attached to the astronauts to hold them to the walking surface.

HOW DO ASTRONAUTS STAY HEALTHY AND WORK OUT?

• Resistance Exercise Device (RED): The RED looks like weight-lifting machines you may see on television.

• To use it, astronauts pull and twist stretchy rubber-band-like cords attached to pulleys.

• The RED can be used for a total body workout. From squats and bending exercises for the legs, to arm exercises and heel raises, astronauts can do them all on the RED.

WORKING OUT ON THE RESISTANCE EXERCISE DEVICE

HOW DOES THE SPACE CRAFT PROVIDE LIVING, SLEEPING?

• Sleeping is challenging in microgravity. Sleeping bags are strapped to the walls and astronauts must secure themselves within them. The rhythmic beating of the heart will cause the head to bob, so the head must be restrained.

Obstacle #3

PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, ATMOSPHERE CHANGES, AND BLADDER ISSUES – HOW

TO WALK IN SPACE.

HOW DO SPACE SUITS PROVIDE AIR SUPPLY?

• The space suit has an oxygen tank that provides pure oxygen for inhaling and canisters to collect the carbon dioxide

HOW DO SPACE SUITS CONTROL THE

TEMPERATURE?

• The suit is layered well with lots of insulation to regulate temperature and keep the astronauts warm or cool from the extreme temperatures of Space.

• The insulation and the thick layers of the suit also protect the astronaut from the harmful rays of the sun and any micro-meteoroids that could hit the astronaut. The suits have been modified several times and have been made flexible enough so that the astronaut can move around freely.

HOW DO SPACE SUITS PROTECT THE ASTRONAUTS?

WHERE’S THE BATHROOM PASS?

Obstacle #4 - Food

WHERE ARE THE NOMS???

WHAT CHALLENGES ARE THERE IN PREPARING AND EATING FOOD, TASTE, ETC?

• In a low-gravity environment, food and drinks would simply float away if they weren't handled correctly.

• To combat this problem, food is carefully contained and drinks are packaged as dehydrated powders.

• The astronauts add water to beverages through a special tube before drinking.

• Foods are either partially or completely dehydrated to prevent them from spoiling.

Obstacle #5WASTE MANAGEMENT

HOW DO ASTRONAUTS USE THE TOILET, SHOWERS, GARBAGE DISPOSAL, ETC. IN SPACE?• Microgravity will cause

water to form a ball rather than a water drop shape or any other shape water can take. This can cause problems showering, perspiring, and drinking. Instead, astronauts take sponge baths or use wet cloths to clean their bodies.

It seems funny now…

HOW DO ASTRONAUTS USE THE TOILET, SHOWERS, GARBAGE DISPOSAL, ETC. IN SPACE?

• Waste management in space is rather interesting. Astronauts use toilets that flush with AIR rather than water. The air draws the waste away, then pushes it into storage tanks.

Obstacle #6GETTING READY

THE TROUBLE• There is no way to create microgravity on Earth

• Astronauts have complex and difficult missions to perform in space, that require practice before hand

• Sending them into space to practice would cost hundreds of millions of dollars

THE SOLUTION• Models and ‘mock ups’ (another way of saying model)

• By creating models as close to the real thing as possible NASA and space programs save millions of dollars.

• Like any model, these ‘mock ups’ are not perfect – but they allow the astronauts to practice and memorize what they need to do with their precious (and crazy expensive) time in space.

SOLUTION – FULL SCALE MOCK UPS

• Practicing with full scale models allows astronauts to learn important exit procedures

SOLUTION – FULL SCALE MOCK UPS

• It also allows them to master all the aspects of each mission – maximizing safety and minimizing danger.