Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian to travel to space, shared a fascinating video of his mealtime routine aboard the ISS. His post gave viewers a rare glimpse into the challenges of eating and drinking in zero gravity.
Mastering the Art of Eating in Space
Sharing the video on social media, Shukla wrote, “Food in space. Never thought I would have to learn to eat again. Here I am explaining why habits matter when you are eating in space. If you are not mindful you can easily create a mess and you don’t want to be that guy. Solid mantra that works for anything in space ‘Slow is Fast’.”
He explained that astronauts must be extremely careful while eating because even the smallest crumbs or drops of liquid can float away, creating chaos inside the spacecraft. Simple tasks require practice, focus, and patience.
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Why Digestion Works Without Gravity
Shukla also revealed a surprising fact about how the human body digests food in space. “Other interesting fact is we don’t need gravity to digest food. A process called ‘peristalsis’ is responsible for digestion which is gravity independent. It is the contraction and relaxation of muscles to push food down through the digestive tract. Head up or head down, gravity or no gravity your body will always digest food. Bon appetit,” he explained.
This means astronauts can eat normally, even in zero gravity, because digestion relies on muscle movement, not gravity.
A Glimpse Inside the ISS
In the video, Shukla demonstrated how coffee and water float in mid-air and how containers and utensils are fixed with Velcro to keep them from drifting away. At one point, he joked, “You can eat water in space,” as floating droplets amused viewers.
Social Media Reaction
The video quickly went viral, with people praising Shukla’s simple yet fascinating explanation.
One user commented, “Wow, Shubhanshu! It's incredible to see you master the art of dining in zero-G. From test pilot to a space pro, you've shown us that with the right mindset, even the most mundane tasks become a scientific adventure.”
Another wrote, “Space has always inspired me, Captain, but your food training journey excites me even more. Awesome.”
Others said they loved watching how science came to life in everyday space activities.
Historic Mission Completed
Shukla recently returned to India after completing his 18-day mission aboard the ISS. He was part of the Axiom-4 crew, a journey that marked a proud moment for India’s space program and inspired countless people back home.