Eating water in space! Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla reveals bizarre microgravity food habits

Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), recently shared fascinating insights about life in space through Instagram videos and social media posts. One of the biggest challenges he highlighted is eating and drinking in microgravity, where food and liquids float freely and can easily create a mess. Shukla humorously explained, “You can even eat water in space,” but emphasized that astronauts must be very careful. Using special packaging and Velcro to secure everything, astronauts must adopt slow and deliberate movements, a practice Shukla calls the mantra “Slow is Fast,” to safely manage food and drink in zero gravity.Eating in space is far more complicated than it appears. Without gravity, food and liquids do not stay in containers or on utensils and can float around, potentially creating hygiene issues or even damaging sensitive equipment. Astronauts rely on specially designed packaging, Velcro straps, and magnetic trays to keep meals secure. Shukla emphasises the importance of slow, controlled movements to prevent spills, avoid floating food particles, and ensure that every bite reaches the mouth safely. Even simple tasks like drinking water require careful technique, such as using sealed pouches with straws, making “eating water” a careful, deliberate process rather than a casual activity.Contrary to popular belief, the human body does not need gravity to digest food. Shukla explained that peristalsis, a process involving rhythmic muscle contractions, moves food through the digestive system from the mouth to the stomach and intestines. This gravity-independent mechanism ensures that astronauts can digest meals effectively, even when upside down or floating freely in microgravity. Other digestive processes, including the breakdown of nutrients by enzymes and absorption in the small intestine, continue to function normally, allowing astronauts to get the energy and nutrients needed to sustain long-duration space missions.Shukla’s observations show that astronauts must relearn basic survival behaviors in microgravity, from eating carefully to managing floating liquids and utensils. These adaptations are essential for safety, hygiene, and overall well-being. Beyond physical adjustments, astronauts also develop mental strategies, such as patience and mindfulness, to manage these unusual tasks effectively. Shukla’s insights make complex space science accessible to the public and inspire curiosity about life aboard the ISS, demonstrating how ordinary habits on Earth must be completely rethought in a zero-gravity environment.