Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has helped to satisfy a thirst for knowledge about how water is used in space.
Dr Al Neyadi, who has been on board the International Space Station for almost a month, showed how the "precious resource" is preserved in his latest social media update.
The history-making space traveller has offered the public regular glimpses of life aboard the floating science laboratory since embarking on his six-month mission on March 3.
He told how water is used to create the clean air that circulates through the space station.
"Water is a precious resource in space," Dr Al Neyadi wrote on Twitter in a message accompanied by pictures of him working on a water recycling tank.
"It is used to create clean air by separating oxygen from hydrogen, and it is also recycled to provide a continuous supply of clean water.
"In these photos, I'm working on the tank that recycles water, while wearing a PPE kit to prevent contamination.
"Ensuring a well-maintained life support system is a key task for astronauts, particularly during long-duration missions."
Using water in space
While water is relatively plentiful on Earth, in space every drop counts.
This means no such luxury as enjoying a long hot shower, while there isn't the capability to take huge volumes of water into space.
Water is heavy and storage space is limited on the ISS, so astronauts have to recycle almost everything, including urine and sweat.
Water does not flow in a zero-gravity environment, so astronauts shower and brush their teeth differently.
This means installing a shower, tap or sink on the ISS would be pointless because water would float away in the form of droplets.
Instead, Dr Al Neyadi and his crewmates use a wet towel containing body wash to clean themselves.
To wash their hair, they must apply shampoo without water and wipe it off with a dry towel.
To brush their teeth, they can squeeze small amounts of water through a straw to rinse and then swallow.
Sultan in space - in pictures
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Director: Remo D’Souza
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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The flights
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The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
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- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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