Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla: To Have 'Ate Water In Space' - Connect2ConnectOnline September 13, 2025

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who came back to India in August 2025.

After his groundbreaking trip to the International Space Station (ISS), has once again captured the hearts of netizens.

This time, he shared a quick tutorial on how to eat in space.

Living in space taught Shukla some survival tricks like “eating water”.

“You can actually eat water in space. It’s entertaining, but you really need to be cautious since everything floats around”, he joked in the video.

The Indian Air Force pilot mentioned, “Eating and drinking in space is quite a challenge… I never imagined I’d have to relearn how to eat… Here I’m sharing why being mindful is important when eating in space. If you’re not careful, you can make quite a mess…”

Reference – https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOGgU83j2k4/?igsh=b2Q3YWw1b3B3ODJu

Shukla found out that a straightforward process known as ‘peristalsis’ handles digestion in zero gravity.

We don’t require gravity to digest food. The process called ‘peristalsis’ takes care of digestion, and it works independently of gravity. It’s all about the muscles contracting and relaxing to move food through the digestive system.

So, how does digestion in space differ from digestion on Earth?

Gravity on Earth helps to separate gas from liquid in the stomach, which makes it easier to burp and get rid of extra air.

In space, gas bubbles can blend with food and liquid, which can make burping a bit tricky and sometimes uncomfortable.

Astronauts refer to this as a “wet burp”.

This might cause bloating, indigestion, or slight nausea.

In space, where there’s no gravity, peristalsis is even more important. It helps food and liquids travel safely from the mouth to the stomach and through the intestines, enabling astronauts to eat and digest normally even in weightlessness.

Various processes work in tandem with peristalsis to facilitate proper digestion.

For example, digestive enzymes released by the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine break down proteins, carbs, and fats into smaller components.

Many people are unaware that the small intestine is vital for nutrient absorption into the bloodstream through specialized structures known as villi and microvilli.

These processes rely on chemical activity and cellular transport mechanisms, rather than gravity.

Astronauts keep a balanced diet, nutrient breakdown and absorption can still work well in space.

DISCLAIMER: This article is derived from information available in the public domain.It’s always a good idea to check your doctor before beginning any new routine.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla: To Have ‘Ate Water In Space’

Share this:

Like this:

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Quote Of The Week

Subscribe My Channel

Discover more from Connect2ConnectOnline