978-1-4222-3418-1

can reveal unseen patterns on Earth. From these images and observations, scientists learn about everything from electrical usage to deforestation . Where They Work gear floating away. Or floating away themselves. Scientists working in space have those problems and more. Outside the Earth’s atmosphere, the cientists on Earth don’t have to worry about their

Without gravity, astronauts float as they work. They use handholds to help them glide around.

gravity that holds us and everything else down does not work. Astro- nauts call it something like living underwater. Scientists heading to space have to learn to live and work while unconnected to the Earth. On the space station, there are many straps and bars astronauts can hook to. This helps them remain stable to work. But that also means they can work on the floor, the walls, or the ceiling with no difficulty. There is no “up” in space. Even when “upside-down” to a camera viewer, astronauts do not feel like they are upside down. Surviving in microgravity takes some practice. Astronauts, whether scientists or pilots, learn to move through the air by pulling themselves along.They learn the semi-crouched position that seems to help people be comfortable in zero Gs. Swallowing takes practice, since there is no gravity to help food down.

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