WATCH: Astronaut Sunita Williams gives a lesson on zero-gravity hydration

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams recently conducted an online session with students of Sunita Williams Elementary School in her hometown Needham, Massachusetts, US. During the program, he gave students a look at lesser-known aspects of life on the International Space Station (ISS), including the unique way astronauts drink liquids in zero gravity. Imagine you’re drinking your drink, but instead of holding a cup, you use a specially designed pouch that neatly holds your drink as it floats weightlessly. This is the reality for astronauts aboard the ISS.
Sunita Williams said that in space, no type of liquid behaves the way it does on Earth, and then highlighted the challenge of keeping beverages under control in microgravity. Without the force of gravity, liquids do not fall into a cup but flow in all directions – a potential mess that can be both inconvenient and dangerous in a confined space.
According to Sunita Williams, to avoid this disturbance, astronauts use a special bag which prevents liquids from floating away. He then demonstrated how astronauts consume liquids from these pouches, which have integrated one-way valves and straws. “This was quite a unique challenge for me,” Williams said while demonstrating how it was done.
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Watch the full video here:

A student gets a demonstration from astronaut Sunita Williams on how to drink liquids in space. Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore accomplished six months in space after becoming the first people to ride Boeing’s new Starliner capsule on what was supposed to be a week-long test flight.… pic.twitter.com/1UQSgvcHsN– FranMoo (@FranMooMoo) 6 December 2024

This interactive session was more than just learning how to drink wine in space. Students were eagerly engaged, asking questions and gaining knowledge about life on the ISS, where space food and hydration practices are not common. For these young learners, seeing an astronaut’s daily routine — including the clever ways they consume liquids — was a window into a world where culinary ingenuity meets space-age necessity. .
Also read: “Flying chocolate snack is the best”: How astronauts celebrated World Chocolate Day in space
Sunita Williams continues to be a source of inspiration and wisdom, with this segment showcasing how astronauts must innovate and adapt everyday activities to life in space, highlighting her ingenuity. However, Sunita Williams’ stay on the ISS involved much more than just drinking from special pouches. As a member of the ISS Expedition 32 crew, the astronaut is preparing for her next important milestone – a spacewalk.