BERLIN (Reuters) - Stick to a daily routine, stay connected with family and treat yourself occasionally - those are some of the tips German astronauts gave for surviving lockdown during the coronavirus crisis, which they said was much like their time in space. <\/p>\n
Thomas Reiter, 61, who was the first German astronaut to perform a spacewalk, recalled during a Skype conversation with other astronauts on Thursday how he had a tight daily routine in space. <\/p>\n
I think its important to follow a conscious routine in such a situation ... keeping that routine all week, said Reiter, now retired. <\/p>\n
But weekend treats were important to look forward to. <\/p>\n
During the week we picked out the things from the food container that each person liked the most for a Friday or Saturday evening and then had a bit better food, he said. <\/p>\n
Reiter recalled using Skype to connect with his family from the International Space Station. Sitting in front of a bookshelf, he recommended using lockdown to catch up on reading. <\/p>\n
You have to be able to retreat, he said, but added that in confinement with others, people must put the group first. You work together as a crew, you have to think of the others. <\/p>\n
Matthias Maurer, 50, the newest addition to the European Space Agencys astronaut corps, said it was important to address any niggles before they blow up into arguments. <\/p>\n
Everyone of us has a quirk which we are comfortable with but which can annoy others, he said, recalling how his taste for bananas annoyed a colleague who couldnt stand their smell. <\/p>\n
If he hadnt said that so politely and clearly, I would have continually annoyed him, said Maurer. <\/p>\n
Alexander Gerst, 43, who commanded the International Space Station, addressed the anxiety people may feel during the coronavirus epidemic. <\/p>\n
Before a mission, astronauts think about the worst that could happen and then train how to respond. <\/p>\n
Then you have the feeling not that you are losing control, but that you have some control over the situation, he said. <\/p>\n
Now the situation is similar. We have a very effective means of limiting this illness - that is that we stay at home. <\/p>\n
Reiter urged people to act likes astronauts going into quarantine before a mission - a protocol to prevent illness in space. <\/p>\n
Some people take the attitude Im young, Im not at danger, I have no symptoms, so I dont need to pay attention, he said. It is up everyone to behave appropriately now, just like for us in quarantine. <\/p>\n
Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Alexandra Hudson<\/p>\n
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Original post: <\/p>\n
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