Astronauts visiting the Worldwide House Station (ISS) sometimes spend about six months there earlier than returning to Earth, although it’s true that numerous them have ended up staying for considerably longer periods of time.

Residing in cooped up situations in microgravity, nicely away from household and pals, is a problem for even the hardiest of oldsters, so how do astronauts aboard the ISS address their uncommon environment 250 miles above Earth?

Effectively, a brief video launched by NASA on Thursday reveals how astronauts spend their downtime after workdays that may final so long as 14 hours.

How do astronauts unwind in house? Watch how they observe a few of their favourite hobbies 250 miles above Earth. pic.twitter.com/q5eIHKOpxN

— Worldwide House Station (@Space_Station) December 18, 2025

As you’ll be able to see, actions can embrace all the things from health club exercises and sports activities to images and enjoying musical devices.

“How they spend their free time is as much as them,” the video’s narrator says, including, “What’s essential is preserving their psychological well being and discovering retailers to chill out and destress.”

Images has all the time been a preferred pastime for a lot of astronauts visiting the house station. The orbital outpost has a collection of skilled DSLR cameras and lenses accessible to be used, with most astronauts heading to the seven-window Cupola to snap photos of Earth and past.

Some crew members go to nice lengths to plan their images periods, understanding beforehand exactly which a part of Earth the ISS will probably be passing over at any given time, after which choosing particular moments to {photograph} areas of curiosity — as long as there’s no cloud cowl, that’s.

On his two visits to the house station, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet earned a status for taking unimaginable photos of Earth, a few of which you’ll see in this Digital Trends article. He even turned his pastime right into a guide after getting back from his second ISS journey in 2021.

Don Pettit is one other astronaut who cherished to {photograph} what he noticed exterior the Cupola, dazzling earthlings with some stunning imagery captured throughout his a number of journeys to the house station.

For extra on how astronauts stay and work aboard the ISS, check out these videos made by previous crew members.