Floating in water

Astronauts in space do not feel gravity, which means that they float freely. The closest feeling to this is swimming - floating - in water. Astronauts train in a swimming pool, practising movements they will have to do when in space in the water until they get more comfortable with working under these conditions.

Do you want to try a couple of movements pretending you’re floating in weightlessness?

IMPORTANT: THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD ONLY BE DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF YOUR TEACHER.

Activity 1: Rotating on your own axis
Wear a flotation device and move to a place in the pool where you don’t touch the ground. Hold your arms to the side of your body and don’t use them. Press your legs against each other and don’t use them either.

1. How many times can you rotate around your own axis / spin in 1 minute?
2. Is it difficult? Why?
3. Which movement do you have to do with your body to get it to spin?
4. Do you think this exercise is easier in space? Why?

Activity 2: Advancing from handle to handle
Wear a flotation device and move to a place in the pool where you don’t touch the ground. Hold your left arm to the side of your body and don’t use it. Press your legs against each other and don’t use them either.

Use your right hand to grab the border of the swimming pool and pull on it to advance.

1. How long does it take you to cover 10 metres? 20 metres?
2. Is it difficult? Why? Is it tiring?
3. Do you think this exercise is easier in space? Why?

Activity 3: Turning upside down
Wear a flotation device and move to a place in the pool where you don’t touch the ground. Hold your arms to the side of your body and don’t use them. Press your legs against each other and don’t use them either.

1. Try to turn upside down in the water.
2. Is it difficult? Why?
3. Which movement do you have to do with your body to turn upside down?
4. Do you think this is easier in space? Why?