aka...science room
international space station
This bright new addition to the night sky is the International Space Station (ISS). Orbiting the Earth fifteen times a day, it is one of the brightest objects in the sky. The ISS is solar powered and it is sunlight reflecting off its solar panels that makes it so bright.
There are 7 astronauts living aboard the ISS. If you can call it living. They sleep in sleeping bags attached to the walls with their arms strapped in so they don’t float above their heads while asleep. Washing involves just a quick wipe down with a sponge. As for going to the toilet…
Amongst other things, the crew carry out experiments on the effects of low gravity. Plants put their roots down and shoots up on Earth because of gravity. How confused are they in space? Plants are vital for the ecological life support systems that would be needed for long space voyages. Where better to develop these systems than where they will be used?
If you fancy giving the crew a wave as they go by, you can find the times when you can see the ISS here: http://www.heavens-above.com
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