7 things you can’t do in space the way you do on Earth

As more humans venture beyond Earth, one thing becomes clear– living in space is nothing like living down here. It’s not just about rockets, suits, or floating around in zero gravity. It’s about learning how to handle the most basic parts of daily life in a completely new environment.

In space, gravity– or the lack of it– changes everything. Simple things we take for granted on Earth suddenly become surprisingly complicated. From sleeping and eating to crying or even going to the washroom, astronauts have to adapt to a whole new way of doing things.

Here’s a look at seven everyday behaviours that become anything but ordinary once you’re off the planet.

In space, crying doesn't bring the relief it does on Earth. With no gravity to guide the tears downward, the liquid simply gathers in the eyes, forming a film or bubble. It’s more irritating than emotional, and astronauts often have to manually remove the tear droplets or wait for the air systems to pull them away.

Using the toilet on a spacecraft involves more than just privacy. Since gravity can't help waste move downward, space toilets use air pressure to pull waste into separate containers. There's a defined system– one for liquid, another for solid waste– and it all needs to be carefully handled. Even sitting down involves strapping in securely to stay in place.

Bathing in space isn’t possible in the way we know it. Water doesn’t flow– it floats. So instead of showers, astronauts rely on no-rinse body wipes and waterless shampoos. Hygiene routines are quick, efficient, and designed to use the minimum possible water, which is a highly controlled resource on board.

Beds don’t serve any purpose in space. Astronauts sleep inside sleeping bags attached to the walls or ceilings of their cabin. With no gravity, there's no “lying down” – they float in place, secured inside their bags to avoid drifting. Despite the setup, many say the sleep can be restful, thanks to the absence of body pressure.

On Earth, gas separates naturally from liquid in the stomach due to gravity. But in space, that separation doesn’t occur easily. So when astronauts try to burp, they often experience what’s called a “wet burp” – when both gas and liquid come up. This makes burping post-meal a risky move in zero gravity.

Without gravity to pull you down, walking turns into floating. Astronauts move by gently pushing off surfaces and gliding from one place to another.

Laundry isn’t practical in space due to water limitations. Instead, astronauts wear clothes repeatedly until they’re no longer usable. Once done, the used garments are treated like waste– either stored for disposal or loaded onto returning cargo vehicles that burn up during atmospheric re-entry.


Note: The examples and systems mentioned are based on existing practices followed by astronauts aboard missions conducted by ISRO, NASA, ESA, and other international space agencies.