A Day in the Life of a Space Station Astronaut

What if your morning commute didn’t take you through traffic, but instead soared 400 kilometres above Earth at speeds faster than a speeding bullet? Welcome to life aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—a place where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and gravity is just a memory.

The ISS isn’t just a spaceship—it’s a symbol of collaboration and courage, built by astronauts and scientists from across the globe. Orbiting the planet every 90 minutes, the station races through space at over 28,000 kilometres per hour. Astronauts aboard this floating lab witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets each day, reminding them how quickly time passes in the vacuum of space. Though it may seem like a life of wonder, every day on the ISS is carefully scheduled. Structure and self-discipline are essential for survival in an environment where even water floats away if you’re not paying attention.

Astronauts begin their day not with an alarm clock, but with a gentle wake-up call from mission control. They sleep inside cosy cocoons, secured to the walls so they don’t drift away mid-dream. Hygiene routines are a balancing act—no showers, no taps, and certainly no toothbrush left floating mid-air. Everything must be controlled and precise. Even brushing teeth becomes an exercise in patience: a tiny pouch of water is used, and toothpaste must be swallowed—spitting would cause a floating mess of minty chaos!

Meals on the ISS are packaged, portioned, and prepared with care. There’s no fridge, and no fresh fruit unless a resupply ship arrives from Earth. Instead, food is freeze-dried, thermostabilised, and taste-tested for long missions. Still, astronauts enjoy eating together, swapping stories, and laughing while their forks float beside them. The view from the Cupola, a glass observatory module, offers a front-row seat to Earth’s wonders—swirling storms, shimmering cities, and vast blue oceans. It’s a breakfast view that even the grandest hotel can’t match.

The ISS is a floating laboratory, and astronauts are its researchers. They conduct experiments that study plant growth, human health, and fluid behaviour in microgravity—insights that help improve life on Earth and prepare us for missions to Mars. Occasionally, astronauts go on a spacewalk, which is neither a walk nor simple. Suited in gear that weighs more than 100 kilograms on Earth, they step outside into the endless abyss, tethered only by a safety cord. Out there, with Earth spinning beneath their feet, astronauts describe it as a feeling like no other—”like dangling on the edge of forever.”

In space, your muscles can shrink and bones can weaken, so astronauts train daily with dedication. They use resistance bands, cycle while floating, and run on a treadmill where they are strapped down. Exercise is not just for health—it helps astronauts feel grounded, even in a place without gravity. Mental fitness is just as important. Living in confined spaces with a small crew can be isolating, so astronauts play games, watch films, and video call loved ones. They celebrate birthdays and holidays together, turning a sterile space station into a home with heart.

Before bed, astronauts review the day’s work, log notes for ground control, and check the status of systems. Then it’s time to return to their floating cocoons, zip up, and drift off as the stars outside twinkle like frozen fireworks. Inside the ISS, the hum of equipment lulls them to sleep. Outside, the silent sea of space stretches endlessly—a reminder of how small we are, and how far we’ve come.

A day in the life of an astronaut is filled with challenges, choices, and curiosity. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s always meaningful. Every moment on the ISS adds to our understanding of space and brings us closer to discovering whether we are alone in the universe. So, could you live a life without gravity, fresh air, or your favourite snacks? Could you float, fix, and function under pressure millions of miles from home? If so, perhaps your journey among the stars has only just begun.