- By Ridam Sharma
- Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Things You Can't Do In Space: Space travel is full of surprises, especially when it comes to everyday routines. Life in space is all about no gravity as the absence of gravity turns simple actions, like washing, eating or even sleeping, a most challenging task of the day. Hats off to astronauts who are making the world proud with their efforts and resilience. Many things we do on Earth, we barely think about or are grateful for. However, these things are either impossible or require special adaptations once you leave Mother Earth.
To learn more about space life, here's a list of some of the most unexpected activities that simply can’t be done normally in space to highlight the resilience of astronauts to live and work beyond the comfort of our world, according to the official data by NASA.
List of Things You Cannot Do Normally in Space:
1. Cry like a normal human being: Tears don't run down your cheeks in space; they accumulate in floating blobs near your eyes.
2. Walk or jog like on Earth: You can't walk or jog normally because there is no gravity to keep your feet on the ground in space. Astronauts float or walk using handrails and treadmills with harnesses.
3. Use a normal toilet: Space toilets use suction rather than gravity. Astronauts have to buckle up, and waste is sucked away by air.
Also Read: NASA+ Coming To Netflix: Watch Space Missions, Rocket Launches And ISS Views In Real-Time
4. Shower: Regular showers are not an option in space. Astronauts use rinseless wipes and no-rinse shampoo to clean themselves.
5. Sleep in a bed: There is no up or down, so astronauts sleep in wall-mounted sleeping bags in order not to drift away.
6. Eat regular bread: Bread crumbs float and can damage equipment or be inhaled in space, so tortillas are eaten instead.
7. Write with a standard pen: Standard pens don't work in space because the ink does not flow in microgravity. Special pressurised pens are needed.
8. Burp safely: Burping can come along with vomiting because stomach contents do not settle in zero gravity.
9. Wash clothes: Laundry facilities are not available in the space. Astronauts wear clothes several times and then throw them away.
Also Read: Which Astronauts Have Spent The Maximum Number Of Days In Space?
10. Taste food completely: Fluid shifts lead to nasal congestion, which dulls the sense of taste and makes food taste bland in space.
11. Light a fire or candle: Open flames are prohibited in space as fire is unpredictable and hazardous in microgravity.
12. Breathe easily: Smells last longer in space as airflow is restricted, even with air filtering devices.
13. Have a drink: Alcohol is banned as it impairs judgment and fluid balance, which are already disturbed in space.
14. Pour fluids: You can't pour drinks or water as you would on Earth. Liquids create floating globules in space.
15. Be able to get real silence: The whir of machinery means there is no absolute quiet within a spacecraft.
16. Sneezing when in a spacesuit: People in space are taught to sneeze downwards into their collars because it is impossible to wipe the interior of a helmet.
Living in space is a constant reminder of how much we are habituated to Earth’s environment. Astronauts must rethink the basics, as to survive in space, you need to find new ways to handle hygiene, meals, and movement. These unusual restrictions showcase both the advancement of space technology and the adaptability of humans in extreme conditions. As we dream of more successful space missions and a more modernised space sector, we need to understand that these challenges are key to a more advanced and smart world.
