Life in Space, Food, Toilets and More: Shubhanshu Shukla Reveals What Living in Space Is Really Like

 

Space travel may look glamorous from Earth, but everyday life in orbit is filled with challenges that most people rarely think about.

For Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS), life in space offered a unique perspective on everything from eating and sleeping to using the toilet and maintaining a daily routine in microgravity.

His experiences provide a fascinating look at what astronauts actually do when they are hundreds of kilometres above Earth.

Eating in Space: Food Without Gravity

One of the first questions people have about space is surprisingly simple: What do astronauts eat?

In microgravity, food behaves very differently from how it does on Earth. Loose crumbs and floating liquids can become a problem, so astronauts rely on specially prepared meals and carefully designed packaging.

Astronaut food is generally prepared to be easy to handle and store. Meals can include vegetables, rice, pasta, meat, snacks and other familiar foods, depending on the mission and the astronaut's preferences.

For Shubhanshu Shukla, food also had a personal connection to home. Indian food in space offered a reminder of familiar flavours while living in an environment completely different from Earth.

Eating in space is not simply about satisfying hunger. It is also about maintaining nutrition, energy and morale during a demanding mission.

How Do Astronauts Use the Toilet?

Perhaps the most curious question about life in space is also one of the most practical: How does an astronaut use the toilet in zero gravity?

The answer is quite different from using a toilet on Earth.

Without gravity, astronauts cannot rely on waste simply falling downward. Space toilets therefore use airflow and suction to guide waste into the appropriate collection systems.

Astronauts receive training to use these systems correctly before going into space. The process may sound unusual, but it is an essential part of maintaining hygiene and health aboard the ISS.

It is a good reminder that even the most advanced space missions depend on solving very basic human needs.

Sleeping in Microgravity

Sleeping in space is another experience that is very different from life on Earth.

Astronauts don't need a traditional bed because there is no need to support their body against gravity. Instead, they typically sleep inside sleeping bags secured to a designated area.

The ISS follows a carefully planned schedule to help astronauts maintain regular sleep and work cycles.

Even so, adjusting to the environment can take time. The constant presence of equipment, lights, sounds and the unusual sensation of floating can make sleeping in orbit very different from sleeping at home.

A Day in the Life of an Astronaut

Life aboard the ISS is highly structured.

Astronauts have scheduled periods for scientific experiments, maintenance, exercise, meals, communication and rest.

Exercise is particularly important because spending extended periods in microgravity can cause muscles and bones to weaken. Astronauts therefore spend significant time exercising to help maintain their physical health.

Their work can include conducting experiments that could not be performed under normal conditions on Earth.

Looking at Earth From Space

Perhaps the most emotional part of living in space is seeing Earth from above.

From orbit, astronauts can see Earth's atmosphere, oceans, landforms and the thin boundary separating the planet from the darkness of space.

The experience can change the way people think about our planet.

For Shubhanshu Shukla, the journey represented more than a personal achievement. His presence in space also became a significant moment for India's growing human-spaceflight ambitions.

What Makes Life in Space So Difficult?

Living in space requires astronauts to adapt to almost everything.

Simple activities become complicated because of microgravity. Moving around, eating, sleeping, exercising and even handling everyday objects require different techniques.

At the same time, astronauts must remain focused on scientific work and mission responsibilities.

There is also the psychological challenge of spending weeks or months away from family, friends and the familiar environment of Earth.

Shubhanshu Shukla's Experience Offers a Glimpse Into the Future

Stories from astronauts such as Shubhanshu Shukla help people understand that space exploration isn't only about rockets and spectacular launches.

It is also about the human experience.

What do you eat? How do you sleep? How do you stay healthy? How do you communicate with your family? And yes—how do you use the toilet?

These everyday questions reveal just how much planning, technology and training are required to keep humans alive and productive in space.

Conclusion

Life in space is extraordinary, but it is also surprisingly ordinary in some ways.

Astronauts still need to eat, sleep, exercise, stay healthy and take care of basic personal needs. The difference is that they must do all of this while floating in microgravity aboard a spacecraft orbiting Earth.

Shubhanshu Shukla's experience offers readers a fascinating window into this unusual world. His journey not only highlights the challenges of living in space but also shows how far human space exploration has come—and how much more there is still to discover.

As India looks toward an increasingly ambitious future in human spaceflight, these stories make the idea of living and working beyond Earth feel a little more real.