Unlike ordinary spacecraft, space stations are designed to allow people to live in space for months at a time. Being confined in a weightless, potentially dangerous environment for such long periods places unique strains on both the minds and the bodies of station inhabitants. But humans have found ways to adapt to these conditions and are continually engaged in the quest to make long stays in space easier and more comfortable.

Staying Busy

Living aboard a space station for a significant period of time requires an astronaut to make many sacrifices, including giving up a certain amount of freedom, being separated from friends and family, and giving up a lot of privacy. For that reason, astronauts must feel as though their sacrifices serve a purpose. Work goes a long way toward helping them feel that way. And not just any work, as...