APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

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APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by APOD Robot » Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:07 am

Image How to Wash Your Hair in Space

Explanation: How can you wash your hair in space -- without gravity? Long a bother for space-faring astronauts, Karen Nyberg, a flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013, gave a tutorial. Key components are a squirt package of water, no-rinse shampoo, and vigorous use of a towel and comb. Even so, the featured video shows that the whole process should take only a few minutes. Residual water will eventually evaporate from your hair, be captured by the space station's air conditioning system, and be purified into drinking water. After returning from a total of 180 days in space, Nyberg has worked for NASA in several capacities including as the Chief of Robotics branch.

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RocketRon

Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by RocketRon » Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:53 am

Perhaps we could equally ask how you take a shower while in space - or have a bath (!) in zero g.

Or do your laundry. ?
And if you place freshly washed clothes in the airlock, will they come back freeze packed,
or will the vacuum completely desiccate/dry them ?
(if water can even be wasted in this way ?)

Even brushing your teeth must be interesting, how do you persuade water onto the toothbrush.
Coffee cups are probably redundant up there too ?
Etc etc.

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by De58te » Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:21 am

If there is no up or down in zero-g, why is her hair all standing one way, on its end? Notice that the water doesn't pour up or down but just forms a sphere and is propelled in the direction from momentum. It seems the solution would be for her to stand upside down, with her feet to the ceiling, then her hair would fall neatly down on her shoulders.

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geckzilla
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by geckzilla » Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:23 am

Samantha Cristoforetti has answers for you, Ron.
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
And they've got some fun solutions for coffee, too.
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

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geckzilla
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by geckzilla » Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:25 am

De58te wrote:If there is no up or down in zero-g, why is her hair all standing one way, on its end? Notice that the water doesn't pour up or down but just forms a sphere and is propelled in the direction from momentum. It seems the solution would be for her to stand upside down, with her feet to the ceiling, then her hair would fall neatly down on her shoulders.
What? She put it that way before the video started. Clearly it's easier to work with up like that, or she wouldn't have done that.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

Vonskippy

Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by Vonskippy » Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:38 am

Better question - why wash your hair in space? For the time it takes, the water it wastes, etc etc Astronauts should man up (even the women) and shave their heads. Then a quick damp cloth and you're done. A shaver with a vacuum attachment to maintain it would be a magnitude easier then the whole washing process. This policy would have a million pro's and only vanity as the single con.

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by Antony Rawlinson » Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:02 am

Never heard of "no-rinse shampoo". I think I'll stay Earth-bound.

javachip3

Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by javachip3 » Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:55 am

I would not want to be minding my own business elsewhere in the ISS and suddenly get splashed in the face by a roaming blob of water from someone's hair-washing -- or worse!

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by orin stepanek » Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:28 am

Vonskippy wrote:Better question - why wash your hair in space? For the time it takes, the water it wastes, etc etc Astronauts should man up (even the women) and shave their heads. Then a quick damp cloth and you're done. A shaver with a vacuum attachment to maintain it would be a magnitude easier then the whole washing process. This policy would have a million pro's and only vanity as the single con.
Aren't their duty tours 6 months? Hair would be pretty long by then!
Orin

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by PolishBear » Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:57 pm

I would shave my head before going up, then keep it as short as possible while on ISS. It just seems easier and far more practical.

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Chris Peterson
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by Chris Peterson » Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:30 pm

Antony Rawlinson wrote:Never heard of "no-rinse shampoo". I think I'll stay Earth-bound.
It was developed for the Earth-bound. Useful for camping trips.
Chris

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Chris Peterson
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by Chris Peterson » Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:32 pm

Vonskippy wrote:Better question - why wash your hair in space? For the time it takes, the water it wastes, etc etc Astronauts should man up (even the women) and shave their heads. Then a quick damp cloth and you're done. A shaver with a vacuum attachment to maintain it would be a magnitude easier then the whole washing process. This policy would have a million pro's and only vanity as the single con.
Certainly, some astronauts have chosen to do this. It's reasonable. But nothing makes it particularly necessary. It's obviously not that difficult to wash your hair. It doesn't consume much time. And water in the ISS is not wasted. Whatever you use to wash your hair is back in the system in short order. It's not like they vent their dirty water into space!
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by Osh » Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:45 pm

Watching videos like this make me wish I followed through with my younger self's dreams to become an astronaut...

CSH

Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by CSH » Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:59 pm

What is the number line on the wall to her left used for? The numerical palindrome.

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by JohnD » Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:16 pm

Saying all you need is, a bag of water, shampoo and a comb is a bit simplistic.
She had the convenience of a high air flow chamber to draw her hair, and spilt water, away from her face, and no doubt to dry it.
Bit like standing in front of a fan, or a hair dryer!

JOhn

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geckzilla
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by geckzilla » Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:38 pm

JohnD wrote:Saying all you need is, a bag of water, shampoo and a comb is a bit simplistic.
She had the convenience of a high air flow chamber to draw her hair, and spilt water, away from her face, and no doubt to dry it.
Bit like standing in front of a fan, or a hair dryer!
Why do you say that? There are small fans sucking in air and debris, but she doesn't appear to be in any kind of "high air flow" chamber to me. Those little square grid things behind her are for ventilation, and you don't see things flowing toward them.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

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JohnD
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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by JohnD » Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:45 pm

Please watch it again, geckzilla!

And then watch Karen on the treadmill:
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
If it wasn't for her pony-tail. her hair would be all over her face!
JOhn

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by geckzilla » Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:48 pm

JohnD wrote:Please watch it again, geckzilla!

And then watch Karen on the treadmill:
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
If it wasn't for her pony-tail. her hair would be all over her face!
This is probably true, but it's not because of air flow. It's just the lack of gravity. You see in both videos there are somewhat loose objects, wires, etc. in the room, but they aren't fluttering or moving about. Please don't ask me to watch it again unless you want to point out some specific evidence that backs up what you're saying.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by MarkBour » Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:52 pm

JohnD wrote:And then watch Karen on the treadmill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ikouWcXhd0
JOhn
Wow, her hair in this video really reminds me of the Martian menace, "Calvin", in the movie, Life (particularly at about 2:43, when she just starts running).
Mark Goldfain

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by neufer » Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:42 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
RocketRon wrote:
Or do your laundry. ?

And if you place freshly washed clothes in the airlock, will they come back freeze packed,
or will the vacuum completely desiccate/dry them ?

(if water can even be wasted in this way ?)
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: APOD: How to Wash Your Hair in Space (2017 Dec 20)

Post by anagenys@gmail.com » Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:00 am

The caption has a hilarious dangling participle:

"Long a bother for space-faring astronauts, Karen Nyberg..." Well, shame on her, being such a persistent bother to her space colleagues!