The UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi has learnt to go with the flow on board the International Space Station — including adapting to a whole new way of using water.
The Emirati astronaut shared a remarkable video on Friday showing how the precious liquid takes shape in a zero-gravity environment.
The father-of-six from Al Ain is shown in the social media post squeezing water out of a straw, which then forms into a sphere.
He is able to grasp the large blob of water, which wraps around his hand, before he finally bursts the bubble with the help of a hand cloth.
As water does not flow freely in the zero-gravity environment of the ISS, installing a shower, tap or sink would be pointless, as the water would float away in the form of droplets.
Instead, Dr Al Neyadi uses a wet towel containing body wash to clean himself.
To wash his hair, he has to apply shampoo without water and wipe it off with a dry towel.
To brush his teeth, he is able to squeeze small amounts of water through a straw to rinse and then swallow.
In April, he revealed how water is used to create the clean air that circulates through the space station.
“Water is a precious resource in space,” Dr Al Neyadi wrote on Twitter in a message accompanied by pictures of him working on a water recycling tank.
“It is used to create clean air by separating oxygen from hydrogen, and it is also recycled to provide a continuous supply of clean water.
“In these photos, I'm working on the tank that recycles water, while wearing a PPE kit to prevent contamination.
“Ensuring a well-maintained life support system is a key task for astronauts, particularly during long-duration missions.”
The history-making space traveller has offered the public regular glimpses of life aboard the floating science laboratory since embarking on his six-month mission on March 3.
Earlier this week, he took part in a live call with space enthusiasts in Mauritius.
It was the first live video call outside of the UAE under Dr Al Neyadi's A Call From Space initiative, in which he answers questions from heads of states, pupils and space enthusiasts.
He told Eddy Boissezon, acting president of Mauritius, that carrying out the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut “was a great responsibility” and that he was proud to have completed it successfully.
The astronaut completed his first spacewalk on April 28, when he stepped outside of the space station for a seven-hour maintenance assignment.
Sultan Al Neyadi in space - in pictures
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Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has released more images of his historic space walk from the International Space Station on social media. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter -
On Friday, Dr Al Neyadi became the Arab world's first astronaut to make space walk when he joined US astronaut Steve Bowen on ISS maintenance. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter -
Dr Al Neyadi spent more than six hours outside the space station. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter -
Photos of Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's space walk show him completing what Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, described as a 'remarkable' accomplishment. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter -
Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Astronaut showing water during his first ‘ A Call with Space’ video chat with the public held at Dubai Opera in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Nasa astronaut Frank Rubio gives UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi a haircut on board the International Space Station. Photo: MBRSC -
Sultan Al Neyadi shares images of sandstorm in Sahara Desert from space -
Sultan Al Neyadi shares images of sandstorm in Sahara Desert from space -
Dr Sultan Al Neyadi shared a video showing Cairo from space. Image: Screengrab -
Sultan Al Neyadi shows breathtaking views of the crescent moon from space. -
Astronaut Koichi Wakata and Sultan Al Neyadi inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock. Nasa -
Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Astronaut during his first ‘ A Call with Space’ video chat with the public held at Dubai Opera in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dr Al Neyadi carries out experiments at the Columbus laboratory. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi@Twitter -
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi in the Japanese KIBO module of the ISS. Photo: MBRSC -
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has shared his first selfies taken from inside the International Space Station. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi Twitter -
The images were snapped in front of the cupola - an observatory on the station - that shows stunning views of the Earth. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi Twitter -
This photo provided by NASA shows Emerati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi during an interview at the International Space Station on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The first Arab astronaut assigned to a long spaceflight is still adjusting to life off the planet, five days after rocketing to the International Space Station. (NASA via AP) -
Sultan Al Neyadi’s, UAE Astronaut, speaking from ISS to UAE leaders. photo: Video screen grab / Nasa -
In this image from NASA TV, the four astronauts including United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, third left gather, during the welcoming ceremony, on the International Space Station, Friday, March 3, 2023. A new crew from the United States, Russia and United Arab Emirates has arrived at the International Space Station. The new arrivals include United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, the first astronaut from the Arab world who will spend an extended time in space. Al-Neyadi is only the second person from the UAE to rocket into orbit. (NASA TV via AP)
