A Day in the Life of an Astronaut: What It's Really Like in 2025

Ever wonder what it's actually like to be an astronaut?

Not the glamorous stuff you see in movies. The real stuff. What do astronauts actually do all day? What's it like living on the International Space Station? What happens during training?

I've talked to astronauts, read mission logs, and watched hours of footage. Here's what a real day in the life of an astronaut actually looks like in 2025.

The Reality: Being an Astronaut Isn't What Movies Show

The Myth: Astronauts spend their days floating around, looking at Earth, and having deep philosophical moments.

The Reality: Astronauts work 12-14 hour days, six days a week. They're doing science experiments, maintaining the space station, exercising, and following a strict schedule. It's work. Hard work.

The Real Talk: Being an astronaut is incredible, but it's also a job. A demanding job. Here's what that job actually looks like.

A Day on the International Space Station (ISS)

Morning Routine (6:00 AM - 8:00 AM)

6:00 AM - Wake Up

What Happens:
- Wake up to an alarm (yes, they use alarms)
- Get dressed (clothes are Velcroed to walls)
- Morning hygiene (water is precious, so it's minimal)
- Check schedule for the day

The Real Talk: Waking up in space is weird. You're floating. Everything floats. But you get used to it.

6:30 AM - Morning Conference

What Happens:
- Daily planning conference with mission control
- Review schedule for the day
- Discuss any issues or concerns
- Coordinate with ground teams

The Real Talk: This is like a morning standup, but with mission control. It's important. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

7:00 AM - Breakfast

What Happens:
- Eat breakfast (food is rehydrated or in pouches)
- Review science experiments for the day
- Check equipment

The Real Talk: Space food has gotten better, but it's still not great. You get used to it.

8:00 AM - Exercise

What Happens:
- 2.5 hours of exercise (mandatory)
- Running on treadmill (strapped down)
- Using resistance exercise device
- Cycling on stationary bike

The Real Talk: Exercise is critical. Without it, you'd lose bone density and muscle mass. It's not optional.

Work Period (8:30 AM - 6:00 PM)

8:30 AM - Science Experiments

What Happens:
- Conduct experiments (biology, physics, materials science)
- Collect data
- Maintain equipment
- Document results

The Real Talk: This is a big part of the job. The ISS is a science lab. Astronauts are scientists and technicians.

12:00 PM - Lunch

What Happens:
- Eat lunch
- Brief break
- Review afternoon schedule

The Real Talk: Lunch is quick. There's work to do.

1:00 PM - Maintenance

What Happens:
- Maintain space station systems
- Fix equipment
- Replace components
- Troubleshoot problems

The Real Talk: Things break in space. Astronauts fix them. It's a big part of the job.

3:00 PM - More Science

What Happens:
- Continue experiments
- Collect samples
- Process data
- Communicate with ground teams

The Real Talk: Science is ongoing. There's always something to do.

5:00 PM - Spacewalk Preparation (If Scheduled)

What Happens:
- Prepare for spacewalk (if one is scheduled)
- Review procedures
- Check equipment
- Brief with mission control

The Real Talk: Spacewalks are intense. They require hours of preparation.

Evening Routine (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

6:00 PM - Dinner

What Happens:
- Eat dinner with crew
- Socialize
- Relax (briefly)

The Real Talk: Dinner is one of the few times to relax. Crews become like family.

7:00 PM - Personal Time

What Happens:
- Call family (video calls)
- Read
- Watch movies
- Look at Earth
- Take photos

The Real Talk: Personal time is limited, but important. Astronauts need to decompress.

8:00 PM - Evening Conference

What Happens:
- Evening planning conference with mission control
- Review next day's schedule
- Discuss any issues
- Coordinate with ground teams

The Real Talk: Another standup. Communication is constant.

9:00 PM - Final Tasks

What Happens:
- Complete any remaining tasks
- Prepare for next day
- Personal hygiene
- Wind down

The Real Talk: Evenings are busy. There's always something to do.

10:00 PM - Sleep

What Happens:
- Sleep in sleeping bag (strapped to wall)
- Sleep in small personal quarters
- Try to get 8 hours of sleep

The Real Talk: Sleeping in space is weird. You float. But you get used to it. And you need sleep. The work is demanding.

A Day in Training on Earth

Morning (7:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

7:00 AM - Wake Up and Breakfast

What Happens:
- Wake up
- Eat breakfast
- Review training schedule

The Real Talk: Training days are long. You need energy.

8:00 AM - Classroom Training

What Happens:
- Learn about systems
- Study procedures
- Review mission plans
- Take tests

The Real Talk: Astronauts are always learning. There's a lot to know.

10:00 AM - Simulator Training

What Happens:
- Practice in simulators
- Run through procedures
- Practice emergency scenarios
- Build muscle memory

The Real Talk: Simulators are crucial. You practice everything. Over and over.

12:00 PM - Lunch

What Happens:
- Eat lunch
- Brief break
- Review afternoon schedule

Afternoon (1:00 PM - 6:00 PM)

1:00 PM - Survival Training

What Happens:
- Practice survival skills
- Learn to survive in different environments
- Practice emergency procedures

The Real Talk: Astronauts train for worst-case scenarios. It's intense.

3:00 PM - Physical Training

What Happens:
- Exercise
- Maintain fitness
- Practice in spacesuits
- Build strength and endurance

The Real Talk: Fitness is critical. Astronauts need to be in excellent shape.

5:00 PM - Team Training

What Happens:
- Work with crew
- Practice teamwork
- Build relationships
- Coordinate procedures

The Real Talk: Teamwork is everything. Crews need to work together perfectly.

Evening (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

6:00 PM - Dinner

What Happens:
- Eat dinner
- Socialize with crew
- Relax

7:00 PM - Study

What Happens:
- Study procedures
- Review mission plans
- Prepare for next day
- Learn new skills

The Real Talk: Training never stops. There's always more to learn.

9:00 PM - Personal Time

What Happens:
- Spend time with family
- Relax
- Prepare for next day

10:00 PM - Sleep

What Happens:
- Get 8 hours of sleep
- Rest and recover

The Real Talk: Sleep is important. Training is demanding.

What Astronauts Actually Do: The Real Work

Science Experiments

What They Do:
- Conduct experiments in microgravity
- Study biology, physics, materials science
- Collect data
- Process samples
- Document results

The Real Talk: The ISS is a science lab. Astronauts are scientists. This is a big part of the job.

Maintenance

What They Do:
- Maintain space station systems
- Fix equipment
- Replace components
- Troubleshoot problems
- Keep everything working

The Real Talk: Things break. Astronauts fix them. It's constant maintenance.

Spacewalks

What They Do:
- Perform spacewalks (EVAs)
- Install equipment
- Repair systems
- Conduct experiments outside
- Maintain the station

The Real Talk: Spacewalks are intense. They're physically demanding and mentally challenging. But they're also incredible.

Communication

What They Do:
- Communicate with mission control
- Coordinate with ground teams
- Report on experiments
- Discuss issues
- Stay in constant contact

The Real Talk: Communication is constant. Astronauts are always talking to mission control.

Exercise

What They Do:
- Exercise 2.5 hours per day (mandatory)
- Run on treadmill
- Use resistance devices
- Maintain fitness

The Real Talk: Exercise is critical. Without it, you'd lose bone density and muscle mass. It's not optional.

The Challenges: What's Actually Hard

Physical Challenges

What's Hard:
- Living in microgravity (everything floats)
- Exercise (mandatory, but difficult)
- Sleep (floating, no gravity)
- Hygiene (water is precious)

The Real Talk: Living in space is physically challenging. Your body changes. You have to adapt.

Mental Challenges

What's Hard:
- Isolation (away from family and friends)
- Confinement (small spaces)
- Stress (high-stakes work)
- Pressure (everything must work perfectly)

The Real Talk: Mental health is important. Astronauts are screened and supported. But it's still challenging.

Work Challenges

What's Hard:
- Long hours (12-14 hours per day, 6 days per week)
- Complex tasks (everything is harder in space)
- Constant work (always something to do)
- High stakes (mistakes can be serious)

The Real Talk: The work is demanding. It's not easy. But it's also rewarding.

The Rewards: What Makes It Worth It

The Experience

What's Amazing:
- Being in space
- Seeing Earth from space
- Floating in microgravity
- Working on important missions

The Real Talk: Being in space is incredible. It's a unique experience that few people get.

The Impact

What's Meaningful:
- Contributing to science
- Supporting space exploration
- Inspiring others
- Making history

The Real Talk: Astronauts are doing important work. It's meaningful.

The Community

What's Special:
- Working with amazing people
- Being part of a team
- Building relationships
- Being part of the space community

The Real Talk: The astronaut community is special. It's a tight-knit group of incredible people.

Recent Space News (2025): What's Happening Now

Artemis Program: NASA continues work on the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. Astronauts are training for lunar missions.

Commercial Space: In 2025, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander became the first private spacecraft to achieve a fully operational lunar landing, supporting NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

The Real Talk: Space exploration is active. There's a lot happening. And astronauts are at the center of it.

Is Being an Astronaut Right for You?

Being an Astronaut Might Be Right If:
- You want to work on important missions
- You can handle long hours and high pressure
- You're okay with isolation and confinement
- You want to contribute to science
- You're willing to train for years

Being an Astronaut Might Not Be Right If:
- You need work-life balance
- You can't handle stress
- You need to be close to family
- You want immediate gratification
- You're not willing to train for years

The Real Talk: Being an astronaut is incredible, but it's also demanding. Be honest about what you can handle.

Conclusion: The Real Life of an Astronaut

Being an astronaut is work. Hard work. But it's also incredible. You're living in space, doing science, and contributing to humanity's exploration of space.

The Reality:
- Long hours
- Demanding work
- Physical and mental challenges
- But also incredible experiences
- Meaningful work
- Being part of something bigger

The Real Talk: Being an astronaut isn't what movies show. It's work. But it's also amazing. And if you're willing to put in the work, it's worth it.

Interested in becoming an astronaut? Check out our astronaut career roadmap or browse astronaut and flight operations jobs. And hey—maybe one day you'll be writing about your own day in space. 🚀