Astronauts pack personal preference items (photos, books, mementos), essential survival gear (spacesuit, oxygen, water, food), and mission-specific tools; total personal payload typically weighs under 2 kg and fits in a Personal Preference Kit (PPK) no larger than 5" x 8" x 2" per NASA-STD-3001.
What should you bring to space?
Astronauts pack a Personal Preference Kit (PPK) with small personal items such as family photos, organizational flags, t-shirts, ball-caps, books, religious texts, and personal mementos, along with mission-critical supplies.
That little PPK is tiny—about 5x8x2 inches—and can’t weigh more than 2 kilos. Most astronauts pack things that keep them sane: family photos, a favorite book, maybe a team hat. Mission planners, though, care more about safety gear than comfort items. NASA even checks every single thing for flammability before giving the thumbs up.
What do you have to do before going to space?
Before going to space, astronauts complete years of training that includes spacecraft systems, science experiments, emergency procedures, and physical fitness regimens designed to prepare them for microgravity and spacewalks.
This isn’t a weekend seminar. Astronauts train for years at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and partner facilities worldwide. They rack up hundreds of hours in simulators, giant swimming pools (neutral buoyancy labs), and even T-38 jets. Plus, they face medical tests, psychological screenings, and survival drills—think water rescues and wilderness first aid. Starting in 2026, anyone aiming for the moon must finish the Artemis training track first.
What are the 5 basic requirements to make a space station habitable?
A space station must have a reliable supply of clean air, potable water, nutritious food, stable power, and efficient waste management systems to support human life.
Without these, you’re not living—you’re just surviving. Clean air comes from CO₂ scrubbers and oxygen generators that split water molecules. The ISS recycles 90% of its water and half its oxygen, filtering and treating every drop. Food is freeze-dried or thermostabilized, power comes from solar arrays, and waste gets vacuum-sealed and stored for later disposal. Thermal control and radiation shielding? Consider those part of the power and structure package.
What must astronauts wear when Travelling into space?
Astronauts must wear a pressurized spacesuit (Extravehicular Mobility Unit or EMU) whenever exiting a spacecraft into the vacuum of space, providing oxygen, temperature control, and protection from radiation and micrometeoroids.
During launch and landing, they switch to the bright orange ACES suit or Boeing’s Blue suit—both keep you pressurized and buoyant if you end up in water. The EMU suit? It’s basically a personal spaceship, pressurized to 4.3 psi with a cooling garment underneath. These suits are modular, so parts can swap between crew members. They’re also tested to hell and back before flight.
What are 10 things you need in space?
The essential items for space travel include a spacecraft, oxygen supply, water, food, hygiene kit, spacesuit, communication device, medical kit, exercise equipment, and navigation tools.
Here’s the practical list: 1) A ride—like Crew Dragon or Soyuz, 2) Oxygen generator and tanks, 3) Water processor and storage, 4) Freeze-dried meals and utensils, 5) Space toilet with waste collection, 6) Spacesuit with life support, 7) Crew communicator with S-band link, 8) Medical checklist and first-aid kit, 9) Exercise gear like a cycle ergometer, and 10) Navigation tools like a star tracker or laptop. Exactly what you need depends on whether you’re just orbiting or heading to the moon.
How do you poop in space?
In space, waste is collected using a vacuum toilet that uses airflow to pull urine and feces into separate containers, which are then sealed in airtight bags and stored for disposal.
The ISS toilet—called the Universal Waste Management System—uses suction, not gravity, to do the job. Urine gets funneled into a container and recycled into drinking water (yes, really). Solid waste goes into a sealed bag, gets dried out, and is stored until a cargo ship takes it away to burn up in the atmosphere. Everything—gloves, wipes, even toilet paper—ends up in the same container. Hygiene is non-negotiable up there.
How much is an astronaut paid?
As of 2026, NASA astronauts earn between $104,898 and $161,141 per year, depending on grade and experience, according to federal pay scales (GS-12 to GS-15).
Salaries follow the General Schedule system, with GS-12 starting around $79,539 and GS-15 capping near $147,953. Most astronauts start at GS-12 or GS-13. They can also earn special-duty pay for hazardous assignments, retention bonuses, or mission incentives. Commercial astronauts? They can make between $150,000 and $250,000, depending on the company and mission. Not bad for a job that involves floating in microgravity.
Can a normal person travel to space?
Yes, a normal person can travel to space as a space tourist or commercial astronaut through private spaceflight programs offered by companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Axiom Space.
Since 2021, regular folks have flown on Crew Dragon and New Shepard. Prices range from $250,000 for a quick suborbital hop to $55 million for an orbital stay. Requirements are minimal: mostly a clean bill of health and a few days of training. Over 50 non-professionals have reached space so far. Costs are dropping thanks to reusable rockets and more competition—so your space vacation might not be a pipe dream after all.
Can I go to the moon without being an astronaut?
Yes, you can go to the moon as a private citizen through NASA’s Artemis program or commercial lunar tourism missions, such as those planned by SpaceX’s DearMoon project.
NASA’s Artemis program is opening seats to private astronauts via the Human Landing System (HLS). SpaceX’s DearMoon mission, originally announced in 2018, plans to fly civilians on a Starship around the moon—though the timeline keeps shifting. As of 2026, no private lunar landing has happened yet, but orbital flybys could come within the next few years. So yes, your moonwalk might be closer than you think.
Can astronauts bring their phones to space?
Astronauts do not bring personal smartphones to space due to electromagnetic interference, cybersecurity risks, and lack of cellular coverage; instead, they use NASA-provided tablets and internet-connected phones for private calls.
NASA hands out modified Samsung tablets and VoIP phones that connect through the station’s internet. Calls are one-way only—astronauts can call home, but no one can ring them up. All devices get scanned for malware before flight. Social media? Limited and monitored. As of 2026, apps like Cisco Jabber handle messaging and voice, but don’t expect to scroll through TikTok in orbit.
Do you need to drink more water in space?
No—astronauts actually drink less water in space because body fluids shift toward the chest and head due to microgravity, increasing thirst sensation and risk of dehydration despite lower intake.
Microgravity tricks your body into thinking you’re dehydrated even when you’re not. That puffy face you see in photos? Fluid shifting to your chest and head. Astronauts monitor hydration with bioelectrical impedance devices and urine color charts. They drink about 2–2.5 liters a day—same as on Earth—but lose more through sweat and breathing. Dehydration can mess with your brain and kidneys, so it’s taken seriously. Every sip counts.
What astronauts eat in space?
Astronauts eat a variety of shelf-stable, freeze-dried, and thermostabilized foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and beverages, rehydrated with water from the station’s supply.
Breakfast could be scrambled eggs (just add water), lunch might be beef stew, and dinner shrimp cocktail—all in pouches. Tortillas are a favorite because they don’t crumble. Fresh fruit? Only lasts a few days after delivery. Calories are carefully tracked, usually between 2,500 and 3,200 per day. Astronauts use forks, spoons, and scissors to open pouches. And yes, coffee is a thing—just don’t expect a latte.
How can they sleep when they are floating in space?
Astronauts sleep in small crew cabins or sleeping compartments, strapped into sleeping bags attached to the wall or bunk to prevent floating and maintain orientation.
Each astronaut has a tiny private cabin with a sleeping bag, pillow, and a fan to keep air moving. Without gravity, you can literally sleep on the ceiling—but most stick to the walls. The ISS runs on a 24-hour schedule, but noise, motion sickness, and sheer excitement can mess with sleep. Some use eye masks and earplugs to fake Earth conditions. Sleeping in the wrong direction? Prepare for a disorienting morning.
Do astronauts wear pajamas?
Astronauts wear regular Earth-style sleepwear—such as T-shirts and shorts—inside the space station, where air pressure and temperature are maintained at Earth-like levels.
The ISS keeps the air pressure at 1 atmosphere and the temperature between 65°F and 80°F, so you won’t catch anyone shivering in a spacesuit at night. The only exception is the orange ACES suit during launch and re-entry. Most astronauts just use regular clothes they bring or find on board. Some prefer compression shirts to help with fluid redistribution while they sleep. Sleepwear gets changed regularly and tossed in designated trash containers—hygiene is everything.
How much does a space suit cost?
The cost of a NASA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit is approximately $250 million per unit when built from scratch in 2026, including research, development, and testing.
That eye-watering price tag covers life support, thermal layers, radiation shielding, and multiple fabric systems. NASA’s next-gen xEMU suit, designed for Artemis, cost about $500 million to develop across contractors. Commercial suits, like SpaceX’s IVA suit, are cheaper—around $20–$30 million—but only for inside-the-spacecraft use. Suits are reused but need refurbishment between missions, adding to the long-term cost. In short: if you lose one, NASA will notice.
