Earth – seen from the ISS

About half of the time dedicated to work, astronauts work on scientific experiments. The rest of the time, they make sure that the Space Station works as it is supposed to by performing different kinds of maintenance and Space Station control activities. As the ISS is still being built, a lot of time is spent on connecting modules and putting equipment in the right places. This type of work includes spacewalks. All the onboard activities are recorded in a diary.

An active volcano

In their spare time, astronauts might listen to music or watch a video. Some take pictures or spend hours in front of a window looking out onto planet Earth. During day-light it is possible to see human-made constructions, for instance big cities and highways. When it is night on Earth, illuminated cities shine like diamonds, with the highways connecting them like lit strings. It is also possible to see lakes, mountains, and the formations of the clouds. In the dark the astronauts can see active volcanoes and lightning during thunderstorms.