Astronauts: Living in Space – TV review

It's extraordinarily brilliant, but I still want to know how real astronauts go to the loo and whether they have Skype sexWow, Astronauts: Living in Space (Channel 4) is like Gravity, only real. Well, Gravity before the debris hits. And with real-life astronauts Koichi, Mike and Rick in the Sandra and George roles. So a little less glam, less A-list.They're in the International Space Station, orbiting 240 miles above the earth at 17,500mph. It's both extraordinarily brilliant and also a tiny bit frustrating.How so? Well, it's extraordinarily brilliant because of where they are, and how they are there, and why they are there, living for six months somewhere properly different. It's "a bit like camping", says Koichi. Nothing like any of the camping I've ever done, it's not. (Immediately cancels all future holidays and starts saving for space tourism. Is Branson really the only option, or will there be an East Coast Main Line alternative?)We see Koichi, Mike and Rick going about their daily lives, cleaning their teeth, shaving, doing the vacuum cleaning, having breakfast, working out in the gym, celebrating Thanksgiving (they even invite the Russians over – this was before, as well as possibly above, Crimea). And all minus a force we take for granted down here, which makes the most menial chore both extraordinary and beautiful. Even taking the rubbish out is fun: nudging a big, floaty sack alone along the corridor (not sure that's technically the right term), through...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian Nasa Culture Television & radio Reviews International Space Station Science amp; radio Source Type: news