Astronauts have found various ways to explore the unique properties of water in space during their journeys. In the latest mission, Artemis II crew members played with a droplet of water, demonstrating its behavior in microgravity.
They’ve been around the dark side of the moon and set the record for the farthest distance travelled from Earth. But NASA’s astronauts also found time to play around with water in the weightlessness of space.
An incredible video shows the Artemis II team experimenting with a droplet of water while in the Orion capsule. The liquid can be seen forming a perfect sphere as it floats around the cabin. At one point mission specialist Jeremy Hansen – who had never been to space before the historic mission – looks through the orb as it flips his image upside-down. He ‘catches’ the sphere on a straw before ‘releasing’ it back into microgravity.
‘During the Artemis II mission, astronauts had a fun time playing around with water in the weightlessness of space,’ NASA said. ‘Artemis II was Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s first spaceflight – so his crewmates taught him a lot about the physics of water in space.
’ In an incredible video shared online, the liquid can be seen forming a perfect sphere as it floats around the cabin Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen – who had never been to space before the historic mission – looks through the orb On Earth, water that is not in a container will lie flat in a puddle due to gravity. However in space, water pulls itself into a perfect sphere because molecules on the surface attract each other equally in all directions with nothing to flatten them out.
A sphere is a shape with the smallest possible surface area for a given volume – meaning when gravity is weak or absent, surface tension pulls the water into a ball. Astronauts on the International Space Station have also carried out water-based experiments, including wringing a wet cloth to show how the water runs along its surface and ‘sticks’ to the astronaut’s hand. Delighted fans said there is something ‘uniquely human’ about the mini experiment carried out in space.
One wrote: ‘Exploration isn’t just technical. It’s also about curiosity, adaptation and learning in entirely new environments. ’ Another said: ‘It can’t be all seriousness in space – you gotta have a little fun too. ’ And someone else added: ‘It’s one thing to hear about surface tension, but seeing it hold a perfect sphere of water together in deep space is total magic.
’ He ‘catches’ the sphere on a straw before ‘releasing’ it back into microgravity as part of the experiment Mr Hansen appears upside-down in the orb thanks to the way the water refracts light. Delighted fans said there was something 'uniquely human' about the gimmick Why does water form a sphere in space? Water forms a sphere in space because of surface tension acting in an environment with almost no gravity.
Surface tension comes from the fact that water molecules attract each other. Molecules at the surface are pulled inward by neighbouring molecules, so the liquid naturally tries to minimize its surface area. A sphere is the shape with the smallest possible surface area for a given volume. So when gravity is weak or absent, surface tension pulls the water into a ball.
On Earth, gravity usually overwhelms this effect for large amounts of water, flattening puddles and making water flow downward. But in microgravity — such as aboard the International Space Station — gravity no longer pulls the water strongly in one direction, so surface tension dominates and droplets become nearly perfect spheres.
However, others expressed concerns about the gimmick.
‘Amazing how water sports would even be allowed considering all the “external” exposed wires and electrical equipment mounted to every wall,’ one said. Another added: ‘Is that not hazardous if it gets into the electronics? ’ The Artemis II astronauts have now been back on Earth for a month following their 10-day journey that took them 252,756 miles from home.
Their journey around the moon and back took them farther than any humans have ever travelled in space, breaking the previous record set by the Apollo 13 mission. While the Apollo crew travelled 248,655 miles from Earth in 1970, Artemis II reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles on day six of their mission.
While conducting their lunar flyby, the astronauts also named two new craters discovered on the lunar surface – including one named Carroll after the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman. Amit Kshatriya, the associate administrator of NASA, said Artemis II was the 'most important human space exploration mission in decades.
' The Artemis II crew, clockwise from left: Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover. They are pictured inside the Orion capsule The Artemis II astronauts have now been back on Earth for a month following their 10-day journey that took them 252,756 miles from home and around the dark side of the moon It recently emerged that NASA's long-awaited plan to land humans back on the moon by 2028 is facing possible delays.
Read More Who will be the next person to walk on the moon? The most likely candidates revealed, as NASA counts down to its return to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years A newly released audit from NASA's Office of Inspector General warned that the agency is struggling to ensure critical next-generation spacesuits will be ready in time for the historic mission.
The suits are essential for astronauts to safely step onto the lunar surface, meaning any setbacks could directly impact the timeline for humanity's return to the moon. Officials acknowledged that original development schedules were overly optimistic and have already slipped by more than a year. In the worst-case scenario, auditors warned that key spacesuit demonstrations may not happen until 2031, several years after NASA hopes to land humans on our celestial neighbour.
Artemis II: Key facts Launch date: April 1 Mission objective: To complete a lunar flyby, passing the 'dark side' of the moon and test systems for a future lunar landing. Total distance to travel: 620,000 miles Mission duration: 10 days Estimated total cost: $44billion Crew: Mission Stages:
Artemis II International Space Station Water In Space Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen Spherical Water Carroll Crater
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How NASA lunar scientists taught Artemis 2 astronauts to see the moon with different eyesJosh Dinner is Space.com's Spaceflight Staff Writer. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships and crewed missions from the Space Coast, NASA science missions and more.
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NASA's Artemis 3 rocket is taking shape for 2027 launch to test lunar landers (photo)Josh Dinner is Space.com's Spaceflight Staff Writer. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships and crewed missions from the Space Coast, NASA science missions and more.
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