If it's yellow...? Let's talk hydration! #TrainLikeAnAstronaut Week of 5/16/16 #STEM #PE

This week we are taking a look and the mind and body side of being an astronaut.  Working in space has many challenges and one is how astronauts will get enough water to survive.  Our own bodies are 70% water and even dropping a very percents can impact how we think, move, and how our body functions.

What may surprise you is how much being an astronaut is also like being an athlete.  Hydration is critical to both of these professionals and it can seriously effect their performance.

Did you know, each of us, on average, uses about 1400 cups of water a day!  Just think of how much water you would have to lug around if you were moving around and had to carry the amount of water you need each day from home to home.   Astronauts did and do just that.  When the International Space Station program started, the astronauts would bring water up to the station as they arrived or when other supplies were delivered by non-manned space craft.    This helped them maintain the balance of water they needed to stay alert and healthy while they worked inside and outside the ISS.

However, according to  ISS Commander Chris Hadfield, deliveries of water to the ISS was significantly reduced because astronauts had the tools to collect and reuse the water used about the station by recycling and filtering.  So..what water did they recycle? Check out his video below...  You just may be grossed out. :)

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NASA's Hydration Station

​Then, we worked through NASA's Train Like an Astronaut, Hydration Station.  Where we consider the question, "How can you tell if your body is dehydrated?"   
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So how does this apply to athletes?

Proper hydration is important to all living things.  However, in the Florida heat and humidity, athletes need to stay up on the signs and alerts their bodies give when sweat and energy usage (working out) use up water resources.  Is it really THAT bad to get dehydrated?  Let's take a look..

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So what about you?

Over the next 12 hours, track when you go "Pee" and it's color!  Then, using what you learned from Hydration Station, track just how hydrated your body is throughout the day.  

Remember to share the questions on the back with your family and then return your log for the Train Like an Astronaut Sticker/Patch!

Excited to see your results...kind of...lol  Remember, do not bring any urine samples to school!  

Cheers,
​Mrs. T