How Can You Stay Hydrated When You Travel to Space?

October 11, 2021

Space travel is no longer a dream. Entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are just two of many adventurers who have boarded a rocket ship and head to space at lightning speed. If you have your sight set on the stars and you think you’d like to give it a try with your family,  you may have wondered how your everyday life would be affected. One important effect of space travel you will need to avoid is dehydration. Read on to discover how astronauts obtain the water they need and keep skin healthy and resilient.

Recycling Water

If your kids are into sustainability and they dream of a family space trip, let them know that they will be saving water daily by squeezing every last drop of available moisture from the environment. Currently, astronauts drink a filtered blend of recycled shower water, perspiration, and even moisture collected from their breath. Things could change as travelers start living, working, and holiday in outer space. Trends suggest that human beings will be able to mine water from the Moon by 2030 and grow food in outer space, which will guarantee a much more comfortable stay for future space tourists.  

Keeping Skin Hydrated

Seasonal changes and high altitudes pose a challenge to skin, which is why moisturization is just as important when you are up in the mountains as when you are walking along the seashore on a hot summer month. The effects of microgravity include the thinning of skin, a lower rate of cell regeneration, and reduced elasticity — all of which can make you look older after your space sojourn. Know that you will have to moisturize your skin twice a day to avoid dry, dead skin peeling off and floating around your spaceship. NASA currently provides astronauts with a special skin emulsion found to help the outer layer of skin (the epidermis) retain water.

Hydrating Snacks

Water isn’t the only way you can battle thirst and keep skin looking young. You can also source moisture from a wide array of foods — including fruits and vegetables. Astronauts also drink beverages made with freeze-dried mixes such as lemonade, orange juice, and coffee. Of course, they still have to rely on filtered/recycled water to rehydrate these beverages. If you are thinking of a space holiday and you can’t imagine the evening without a gin and tonic, note that NASA has banned the consumption of alcohol during space missions — since alertness is required of astronauts so they can react quickly should an emergency arise. There is one astronaut who got away with a glass of alcohol, though — Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 maverick who completed his Holy Communion upon landing on the Moon. 

Traveling to space is the dream of any little child so if your little ones dream of experiencing this awesome adventure, clue them in on vital information that will fascinate them. Let them know that outer space can dry their skin and that they will need to moisturize twice daily with a special serum. Enlighten them on how every last drop of moisture is reused in spaceships for drinking water — even their breath!