How does it feel to live in microgravity? Is it easy to sleep when you are floating around in a sleeping bag? What kind of food do you eat? Over the years, astronauts who have been part of expeditions to the International Space Station have recorded their experiences in memorable books. Here are some of our most favourite picks.
Diary Of An Apprentice Astronaut by Samantha Cristoforetti: Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti documents the 200 days she spent on the ISS in this incredible story that takes you through her journey as an apprentice astronaut, the rigorous training and the challenges in understanding everything from weightlessness to mastering the art of floating. Cristoforetti, who was part of Expeditions 42 and 43, is also the first Italian woman in space.
Limitless: The Autobiography by Tim Peake: Using diaries and audio notes from his mission, British astronaut Tim Peake offers glimpses of life on the space station. The book also charts his journey through an 18-year career in the army, before becoming a flight instructor and test pilot. Peake was part of Expeditions 46 and 47 to the ISS.
You Are Here: Around The World In 92 Minutes by Chris Hadfield: Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who also served as the commander of the International Space Station, creates a stunning visual essay based on thousands of images of our planet, taken from the ISS. The book gets its title from the average duration the space station takes to orbit Earth: 90-92 minutes.
Endurance: A Year In Space, A Lifetime Of Discovery by Scott Kelly: US astronaut Scott Kelly writes one of the most deeply personal accounts of life and time on the ISS, during one of the most extended stays in space. Kelly, who holds the record for the longest space flight by an American, was part of a pioneering “Twins Study”, which compared his year in space with that of his Earth-bound twin, Mark.
