International Space Station (ISS) it is one of the most massive and complex machines that mankind has ever built. Five space agencies came together to put it into orbit and maintain it. These were NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The first module of the ISS was launched in 1998 and took several years to become fully operational.

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Since entering stable orbit, the ISS has been manned without fail, with more than 270 astronauts from various space organizations arriving and departing over the years. Everything that happens on board or outside the ISS is intensely monitored by people on the planet, and that is not hyperbole. NASA and the other organizations monitor every astronaut’s information, and while they offer as much privacy as possible, there’s very little to be had when you’re hurtling through space at 27,500 mph with the eyes of the world on you.

Astronauts serving aboard the ISS are strictly regulated in terms of what they can eat, drink and do. Their tasks are assigned and monitored, and they are required to engage in specific exercise routines to ensure they maintain muscle mass in the microgravity environment. Those on board the ISS don’t just have everything regulated; They are also prohibited from eating, drinking and doing certain activities, some of which may surprise you.

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Since the beginning of space exploration, astronauts have been eating specially prepared meals, and fortunately, the food has improved. Astronauts aboard the ISS can even grow their own edible cropsalthough this is more of an experiment than a sustainable food source. For most of their meals, astronauts have a choice of options that require rehydration and heating to consume. Although they have more options than the Apollo astronauts, there are restrictions.

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Because astronauts aboard the ISS operate in a microgravity environment, there are some foods that are absolutely forbidden to eat. These include bread and crisps, which may surprise you. Bread and chips produce a lot of crumbs on the best of days, and crumbs can get into cars or electronics and cause all sorts of problems, so they’re a no-go.

That’s not all an ISS astronaut can’t eat, as they’re not allowed to use salt, pepper or other spices for the same reason. Not even astronaut ice cream is allowed because of the crumb. Carbonated drinks are also prohibited, as carbonation affects digestion differently in space and you don’t want to find out how. Finally, it’s against the rules to eat fish, and if you’ve ever microwaved a fish meal at work and dealt with your co-worker’s complaints, you know why – that smell will linger inside the ISS for days.

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Everyone who visits the ISS is a hard-working adult, so why not let them enjoy a beer at the end of a long day? There are several reasons why alcohol is not allowed for anyone serving aboard the ISS. Beer is already banned because it’s fizzy, but you won’t find a drop of wine or spirits on board the ISS.

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Daniel G. Huot, a spokesman for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the BBC explained why: “Alcohol is not permitted aboard the International Space Station for consumption. The use of alcohol and other volatile compounds is controlled on the ISS due to the impact their compounds can have on the station’s water recovery system.” In case you didn’t know, all water, including urine, is recycled on board, wasting very little in the process.

Shipping water to the ISS is not feasible, so the astronauts simply recycle everything. If their urine is contaminated with alcohol or other similar substances, the recycling machines may break down or not work properly. Astronauts can’t even use mouthwash, perfume or aftershave because they all contain alcohol. Besides, you can’t drink while driving or flying an airplane, so why would the astronauts responsible for operating a $150,000,000,000 space station be allowed to?

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Believe it or not, one of the biggest no-gos aboard the ISS is sex. This is a long-established rule that every astronaut must adhere to, even if they do living on the ISS somewhat provocative. However, the reasons actually make a lot of sense. First of all, sex in microgravity is incredibly difficult – it’s difficult to interact intimately with someone if your every move results in them floating away from each other.

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There is also the concern about the total lack of privacy of the people involved and those who have to listen to those who are. In addition, bodily fluids pose a risk to machines, and without going into too much detail, it’s not something that various space agencies are willing to risk. There is also the possibility of injury, which is a problem, and pregnancy can be worrying, as being an astronaut is not the safest profession in the world. That said, getting pregnant in microgravity may not be possible outside of IVF.

NASA has talked about sex in space and insists it hasn’t been done…yet. That being said, it is theoretically possible if certain steps are taken to ensure no bodily harm, nothing is left floating, and some degree of privacy can be achieved. Still, until NASA changes its blanket “no sex” policy, there’s little chance astronauts will get up to some chic and join the 220-mile club anytime soon.

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