• Question: how long would you have to stay in space for.

    Asked by s1377 on 31 Dec 2015. This question was also asked by chanel, elise02, ninja123.
    • Photo: Adrianos Golemis

      Adrianos Golemis answered on 31 Dec 2015:


      That depends on why you are in space in the first place! Today professional astronauts travel in space to serve as scientists and technical experts in the world’s most demanding research laboratory, the International Space Station. The amount of time they spend there depends on a number of parameters: How long do they need to complete most of their experiments in space (or their technical work in assembling the Station)? What is the training they have received? Are they a veteran who has flown another mission before or a new astronaut? A lot also depends on logistics: A capsule “ferry” to the ISS and back to Earth can only fly on specific days and this affects mission duration. In modern times the stay of a professional astronaut in space can range from a week up to several months or even a year. Other than professionally trained Astronauts, there is a handful of “space tourists”. There are only 6 of them so far as the cost of a vacation trip to space can be enormous. These people receive a “lighter” training as compared to professional astronauts and only stay in space as long as a week.

Comments