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Matthias Maurer: »I found the raindrops pattering on my head and body almost overstimulating.«
Photo: Harald Tittel / dpa
Recently, Winfried Kretschmann called for using the washcloth more often to save water and energy.
Astronaut Matthias Maurer, 52, knows exactly what it feels like to wash with just a little water for months.
Maurer orbited the earth in the International Space Station ISS from November 2021 to May 2022.
There are many modern research stations there, but no showers.
As a result, the Saarlander was unable to shower for around six months and had to use a cloth instead.
Personal hygiene in weightlessness was still quite relaxing, Maurer told the dpa news agency.
"Because of the lack of gravity, the water doesn't run down, but wets the body with a thin film," he said.
Then grab soap or a soapy cloth.
"It's similar to a washcloth." The film of water is rubbed off with a towel.
Maurer was looking forward to the first shower after his assignment.
However, he was disappointed: Two hours after landing, his vestibular system was still struggling with gravity.
»I found the pattering of the water droplets on my head and body to be almost overstimulating.«
Maurer had to throw up after the shower, he had never felt so bad in space.
"I felt better after that."
kha/dpa