In zero-gravity there is no «up» position and the cosmonaut is

oriented in the sleeping bag as if he or she were sleeping up. Now

beds are built into the walls with an individual light, communications,

fan, sound suppression, blanket and sheets. They even have

pillows.

Experiences on the space shuttle have helped prepare astronauts

for life aboard the International Space Station. Let's imagine

the life at the station in several years.

Life-support systems on the ISS can supply cleaner air, purer

water, better food and more sanitary toilet facilities than on the

space shuttle. Life aboard the station may not be easy, but it is significantly

healthier and more pleasant than in the past, allowing

astronauts to focus on the scientific research and station maintenance

that occupy them for about 9 hours a day.

The kitchen on the station, for the first time in space history,

has refrigerators and freezers. It may not sound like much, but it is

a giant step forward. For the first 30 years in space, all food was

kept at room temperature. Only now, in the 21st century, can refrigerator

allow NASA to supply milk to help with bone loss in space

flight. A glass of nice cold milk was asked for years. And the refrigerator

proved to be an easier solution than a lot of experiments to

make good powdered (порошковое) milk for a number of years.

Later in the day, thanks to another kitchen appliance, cosmonauts

will eat a frozen dinner just like the ones sold in supermarkets.

The combination convection/microwave oven automatically

thaws (размораживать) your food (using heat), than heats it with

microwaves (just as they do on Earth).

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The refrigerator, freezer, and oven mean that astronauts eat a

healthier diet. The shuttle food was low in fiber. «The ISS food can

overcome that with salads, fruit, vegetables, apples, oranges, etc.,»

a space expert had predicted. Now, with these food delivered by the

space shuttle a few times a year, you no longer have to take special

tablets.

There is no dishwasher in the kitchen. Instead, you wash your

magnetic silverware (столовые приборы) with antiseptic towelettes

(салфетка). It does not seem very hygienic, but the shuttle astronauts

just had to lick their silverware clean.

The empty food containers will be either ejected into space to

burn up on re-entry to the atmosphere or returned to Earth on the

shuttle.

The next step in life support will be a completely closed airand-

food cycle, with plants grown in space. Plants and microorganisms

could even help remove contaminants from the water supply.

It is that sort of research that will be necessary if people are

ever to establish settlements far beyond Earth.

Biological approaches to supplying food, water, and air could

not only save power aboard the station, but could also reduce the

number of resupply trips required.

May be some day astronauts will have fresh bread on the station.

But even with today's frozen dinners, they already spend 4

hours a day on meals and hygiene. Exercise takes 2 hours more a

day. That leaves them just an hour of free time for the simple pleasures

of life in space: The view of Earth through the window. A letter

e-mailed from their family. Microwave popcorn with a movie.

And the friendship of the crew members with whom they share this

tiny world.

Text 12D