---
title: 'Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino on Life and Work in Space'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=71bTxCB77c0'
video_id: '71bTxCB77c0'
date: 2026-08-05
duration_sec: 111
---

# Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino on Life and Work in Space

> Source: [Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino on Life and Work in Space](https://youtube.com/watch?v=71bTxCB77c0)

## Summary

Former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino shares insights into the realities of living and working in space, including toilet training, the physical sensations of launch, the process of suiting up, and safety protocols for spacewalks.

### Key Points

- **Toilet Training** [00:01] — Astronauts practice using a toilet that works like the shuttle toilet, including an alignment trainer with a camera to ensure proper positioning.
- **Launch Experience** [00:29] — During takeoff, there is intense shaking for 2.5 minutes due to solid rocket boosters, with G-forces building up to about 3 G's. After 8.5 minutes, the main engines cut and weightlessness begins.
- **Suiting Up** [00:57] — Astronauts wear a diaper, polypropylene underwear, socks, and a liquid cooling garment with tubes to manage body heat, as the suit is enclosed and cannot leak.
- **Spacewalk Safety** [01:24] — Astronauts on spacewalks are attached to a strong titanium tether. If they become detached, they could float away, but the shuttle can be flown to rescue them.

### Conclusion

Massimino's account highlights the rigorous training and safety measures that make space travel possible, from mundane tasks like using the toilet to critical procedures for spacewalks.

## Transcript

train to use the toilet? This is Mike Masamino, a former astronaut who's been on two space missions. >> In our simulator area, we had a toilet that worked just like the shuttle toilet and you so you could practice on that
to it that you did not poop in, but that was like an alignment trainer and uh that had a camera looking up through the hole. So, and it had a closed circuit TV memorize that and then you could actually try it out and see how well you
about that. >> During takeoff, astronauts travel from of minutes. >> There's a lot of shaking going on with run for 2 and 1/2 minutes and they run rough cuz they're solid material. The
rough cuz they're solid material. The G-forces build up to about uh 3 G's, so at the end of 8 and 1/2 minutes, the main engine's cut and you're weightless. it. >> The space suit is an iconic image when
what's it like actually wearing one? >> Put your diaper on first, then you put these polyropylene underwear on to absorb your sweat. You put some socks on, keep your feet warm, and then uh then you put a liquid cooling garment
underwear with lots of tubes on it. You're typically more concerned about getting too hot because you're in an enclosed space suit that cannot leak or two astronauts out on a spacew walk,
both attached to a strong titanium tether. If one gets loose, NASA has a works. >> On the space station, you have a little anyway, but if you came undone, you would fly yourself. You had a little
Hubble. But if that happened, you start floating away, become a free flyer, the He would take over the controls of the shuttle and fly it to you so you would grab it. If you like this, then watch the full video on Insiders YouTube
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