Connecting with people via social media amazing: Astronauts to Mark Zuckerberg

International Space Station (ISS) photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis. (Photo Courtesy: NASA)

Discussing the use of social media on board to the impact of zero-gravity on their health, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday took time off his busy schedule to have a first-ever 20-minute live webcast with the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).

For Tim Peake, Tim Kopra and Jeff Williams on the ISS, social media is a nice way to reach family and friends from space.

“We are very happy to have internet connectivity as it allows us to be connected with family and friends back here. We often share photos with the public too. Life here is so unique so sharing it people on Earth via social media is a tremendous experience,” they responded to a question from Zuckerberg.

“Currently, we are experimenting with the impact of zero-gravity on human body. We are continuing with several physical science experiment on board,” they told Zuckerberg.

The astronauts have successfully installed an inflatable habitat on the ISS which is crucial for future deep space exploration.

“Beam module is on. The expandable habitat will pave the way for deeper space missions including Mars. We have a privilege to see the Blue Marble from here. It is incredible out here,” they told the Facebook CEO.

On a questions whether food and drink taste differently on the space station, they replied: “Tastes do change a little bit owing to fullness in the head or fluid changes in the body but we like to have spicy food up here. We have a wide variety of food up here including ice cream. Food up is very very good.”

“Human body can endure long periods in space. We are going to learn with the times,” they said.

On a question that what is the most interesting piece of technology for them, they replied: “Virtual reality (VR) technology is quite interesting along with the 3D mapping of the space station.”