What does one do for fun while living in space? How do astronauts cope with loss of bone density in microgravity? <\/p>\n
Sixteen students. Sixteen questions. <\/p>\n
The answers came from qualified sources: astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins, who could be seen on a big screen, floating inside the International Space Station (ISS), by 130 aerospace students at Alamo Heights High School. <\/p>\n
The live television downlink was arranged by U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, who said it was the second one his office has taken part in and the first in the San Antonio area. Principal Linda Foster called it a historic event. <\/p>\n
There are lots of technical issues to address, and NASA gets lots of requests, Smith told the students. I hope this inspires you to continue studying science, engineering and technology. <\/p>\n
We exercise quite a bit. We run on a treadmill. We wear a harness that straps us to the treadmill, Mastracchio said, responding to a question by Sara Downing. He arrived at the ISS in November. <\/p>\n
That puts a load on our shoulders and legs, and it helps put a load on our muscles and our bones. We also lift weights. We have a pneumatic system that allows us to do squats and dead lifts. That, a good diet and exercising two hours a day helps to minimize the loss of bone density while we're up here. <\/p>\n
Students also asked the astronauts how they eat in space and whether they lack rest in such an extreme environment. <\/p>\n
I found I'm sleeping as much up here as I do on the ground, about six or seven hours a night, Hopkins said, replying to a question by Anne Wang. He's been on the space station since September and is due to return to Earth this March. <\/p>\n
We sleep in sleeping bags, but as we don't sleep on the ground, we tie a sleeping bag to a wall or an overhead compartment and slip in there. I find it pretty comfortable. <\/p>\n
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