OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaSleeping in space is very different from sleeping on Earth! There is no gravity, so astronauts cannot just lie down in a bed. They have to strap themselves into special sleeping bags attached to the walls so they do not float around.
Astronauts sleep for about eight hours, just like kids do on Earth. They zip into cozy sleeping bags that are stuck to the wall or ceiling. They wear eye masks because the Sun rises every 90 minutes as the space station goes around Earth. They also use earplugs because the station can be noisy!
- Astronauts can sleep in any direction since there is no up or down in space.
- Some astronauts say floating while sleeping feels like lying on a soft cloud.
- Astronauts sometimes dream about floating even after they come back to Earth!
