Even after having been selected and completed trainings an astronaut's day is not as easy as one may think. This career certainly has its drawbacks. The rigorous training is often time consuming and limits time that astronauts have to spend with their families. One could actually work 24 hour days, 7 days a week and still not have completed their work. It is very difficult to strike a balance between work and family life. The long unpredictable hours and extensive travel for months at a time are not commensurate with the compensation and can be difficult on the family. It is not unusual for astronauts to begin their day at 7:30 am and not leave until 11:30 pm. When not on a mission, astronauts perform research and conduct experiments for potential space missions. They participate in weightlessness simulations and undergo continuous security screening while continuing to update their jet-pilot qualifications and flight experience.
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While on a mission an astronaut's day may seem similar to your daily life: get up, brush teeth, wash your face, comb your hair, and eat breakfast, but being in space poses challenges because you are now at zero gravity. For example, washing your face is not as easy because the water will not stay in your hands to splash on your face. One would have to use a wash cloth that was carefully wet down from a water bag so that no water was to escape and float around the cabin. Washing your hair is equally difficult. Astronauts use no rinse shampoos and have to towel dry it out. The biggest change is that personal hygiene and daily tasks like preparing and eating your food are time consuming at zero gravity.
After a day of experimentation and research the crew gathers for exercise and their evening meal before getting ready for bed in sleeping bags that tied to a wall or the floor. Exercise is essential to the astronaut's routine because it helps to prevent the deconditioning effects of zero gravity. Even while on the treadmill, astronauts have to wear harnesses to hold them in place.
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