What do astronauts do for fun?

What You Need to Know

1. In space you can see a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes.
2. Astronauts only work eight and a half hours a day.
3. Internet has been available in space since 2010.
4. Spacecrafts are kitted out with the most modern exercise equipment.
5. Everything on a spacecraft is kept to a rigid schedule.

In a place where time is infinite, you have an awful lot of it to kill. For astronauts, an unimaginable world of no television, no newspapers and no gravity is reality for weeks at a time. Though the International Space Station (ISS) does boast Internet access, you expect, or hope, it is for rather more important matters than the pursuit of online games.

So, what exactly does an astronaut do in his or her downtime? Well, a crucial and strictly regimented eight and a half hours of sleep takes up a significant chunk, while up to four hours are set aside for meal times and hygiene rituals.

Astronauts live in a highly organised fashion while on a mission and stick to a strict schedule, with certain timeframes allotted to every task, from trash collection and the preparation of rations to reviewing the day’s work and planning for the future – every minute is accounted for.

Care is taken to ensure the working day does not exceed eight and a half hours. The nature of the work, with the additional complications of a claustrophobic and isolated environment, means the threat of over-fatigue is a constantly looming presence.

Typically, the bulk of the working day occurs after the midday meal and takes between six and seven hours. Mornings are generally set aside for entertainment and exercise, where confined spaces and zero gravity lead to the creation of a number of innovative time-killers.

The main space pastime of choice requires neither much effort nor lateral thinking – enjoying the view. Many astronauts talk of the breathtaking beauty of looking back on planet earth, witnessing a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes.

As shuttles orbit the earth several times a day, there is always something new to admire from a different angle. Storms and hurricanes provide a stunning natural alternative to evening television.

So, what do they do for games? Well, space travelers tend to find entertainment in the everyday circumstances of being in the atmosphere. Effortless mid-air somersaults, or chasing floating water droplets are timeless classics in most shuttles and entertain both crew and those watching from Earth via video link.

Care packages from home are also received during missions, containing a variety of photographs, letters, magazines and other reading material, while the ISS boasts multi-media library lockers of books, music and videos. Perhaps most crucially of all though, was the arrival of the Internet onboard in 2010.

Though crucial for communication purposes, the Internet also provides a valuable downtime entertainment tool. Imagine floating 370 km above the Earth and logging on for a quick Deal or No Deal game. It’s all rather a far cry from whacking golf balls off the moon.

Keeping the crew in shape is another important priority and fitness demands are met with the provision of a treadmill, an exercise bike and a range of other equipment. Astronauts are granted their weekends off and that time is frequently used to read, watch films, get in contact with loved ones or undergo additional exercise sessions.

The latest statistics from the UK Gambling Commission show that playing online accounts for 20 per cent of all gaming activities, placing it only behind lotteries and scratch cards in terms of popularity. Surely some of these players are astronauts bored of looking at back at Earth?

As for us Earth dwellers? Well, for those of us not lucky enough to be in space there is, fortunately, a huge array of online games to keep us occupied.

You never know, the next time you head over for a quick go on the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire online game, someone, in a galaxy far, far away (well, pretty far) may well be doing the exact same thing.