![a day in space a day in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xULcw9kDNZJTmJS3FfZcQ6-1200-80.jpg)
NASA wanted to make Skylab, the United States’ first space station, feel more like home, especially because astronauts would be living there for extended periods. “It was a slap in the face to those who greeted them upon their return because the scent was so strong.” “The astronauts had been in their suits so long without changing their clothes so that the scent lingered the entire time,” said Jennifer Levasseur, a curator in the Museum’s Space History Department. Astronauts could only use limited amounts of water to clean themselves, and that meant coming back to Earth smelling a little less like roses. Unlike later missions, there was no way to conserve water. Astronauts cleaned themselves with a towel, soap, and a little water. On the Gemini and Apollo missions, NASA went for the simplest solution: a sponge bath. So how does one bathe in space? (Hint: It’s not nearly as comfortable as it is here on Earth.)
![a day in space a day in space](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/02/71/f8/0271f8ba8533de20dac1f8b140b6325f.png)
The lack of gravity causes water and soapsuds to stick to everything. Gravity is what makes all of these experiences possible-it pushes that cool and refreshing water off your back and into the drain.īut all that changes in space. There's nothing quite like experiencing the cool touch of water from the shower or jumping into a pool on a hot day. Showers, baths, swimming: these are all experiences most of us take for granted on Earth.