NASA astronauts do something crazy with their clothes on board the ISS.
Life in space is a hardship that only the finest prepared can face, but the internet has been going crazy since it was discovered how astronauts cope with their wardrobe hygiene.
How many suitcases would you bring on a trip around the orbit? Personally, I’d pack my full wardrobe and then buy another as a spare.
While this ensures that you have as many outfits as possible for your stay in space, what happens to your apparel after you’ve worn it?
At home, we all have the luxury of using laundry machines to keep our clothes clean and smelling fresh, but on the International Space Station (ISS), things are different.
When it comes to laundry in space, things can get complicated, and this is the burning question that has been answered.
If you assumed they had some water, detergent, and a pail to hand-scrub their clothes, or even a little portable machine, think again.
They actually do not do laundry at all.
In fact, they have an unusual method of dealing with filthy clothing articles.
Because of the amount of water required to keep them clean, they wear them until they become too soiled to eat, then discard them from the ISS and into the atmosphere, where they will burn up upon re-entry into Earth.
While that seems nasty, the ISS is meticulously climate managed, so astronauts do not sweat excessively, and it is a reasonably sterile environment, with minimal mess on board to spoil apparel.
According to Humans in Space, certain manufacturers have cooperated with NASA to provide specific apparel that will allow them to stay cleaner for longer.
For example, BEAMS Co., Ltd. created clothing for ‘astronaut NOGUCHI Soichi to wear during his extended stay on the ISS, which began in November 2020’.
It said: “These clothes have functional features required for an extended stay in space, such as absorbency, quick drying, antibacterial and deodorizing properties.”
However, astronauts are still required to bring one polo shirt every 15 days and one pair of underpants every 3 days in order to avoid overpacking.
To deal with their laundry burden, certain garments are placed in cargo spacecraft that burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, while more expensive things, including as spacesuits, are returned to Earth for washing and repairs.
This information is underneath the radar of Redditors.
One person commented, “I was wondering how they didn’t get UTIs and boils this way. It seems sense that they have a specific antibacterial requirement for their clothing.
Another stated, “When I was a youngster, I wanted to be an astronaut so terribly, but the more I understand about their life, the more I’m glad I didn’t follow that vocation. That, and I’m quite stupid.”
Someone person commented, “Okay, but how many costumes will they bring? Can you tell whether an astronaut has been in space for too long based on whether or not they are naked?
However, NASA is seeking to enhance their method and will collaborate with Tide in 2022 to figure out how to clean astronaut apparel on board with minimal water.
Tide devised a ‘totally degradable detergent, specifically engineered for use in space’ to aid increase stain removal and keep their belongings clean.
