Tim arriving at the Space Station. Credits: NASA

Tim arriving at the Space Station. Credits: NASA

Tim has been settling into his life on the International Space Station. His first full day was spent reviewing safety procedures and adapting to life in weightlessness.

Today Tim starts his first productive task. Together with NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and Station commander Scott Kelly they will unpack cargo from the Cygnus-4 spacecraft that arrived at the International Space Station on 8 December 2015.

In between his first tasks Tim has multiple sessions to be introduced to his new home including the ‘gym’ that is the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) and the Station’s exercise bicycle.

All astronauts on the International Space Station follow the GMT timezone and generally wake up at around 06:00, starting and ending their days with a Daily Planning Conference at 07:40 and 19:40. Lunchtime is generally between 12:00 and 14:00 but times vary according to the astronaut’s schedules. Mission planners try to organise the schedule so astronauts can enjoy an evening meal together.

Cygnus spacecraft arriving at the Space Station. Credits: NASA

Cygnus spacecraft arriving at the Space Station. Credits: NASA

On Friday Tim will continue working with Cygnus as well and spend an hour on the Station’s exercise bicycle. One of the first experiments Tim will work on will be for the Canadian Space Agency called Marrow, investigating the effects of radiation on the bone marrow. Tim will record a message for Rocket Seeds and have his first weekly Crew Conference with ESA ground control at the Columbus Control Centre.

Saturday is cleaning day on the International Space Station and Tim will join the rest of the crew to give the orbital laboratory a thorough hoover and wipe. As the Station is a closed system and dust floats around indefinitely instead of falling to the floor with gravity, it is extra-important to keep a clean house. Saturday evening Tim will use the ARED.

Sunday is the only free day for astronauts but even then they need to exercise and some experiments have to be performed due to the science requirements. Tim will use the ARED again and go for a run on the Station’s treadmill. Tim’s Sunday science is to fill in his Space Headaches questionnaire.