---
title: "NASA Astronaut Warns Wealthy Space Tourists: Space Requires “Grit”"
description: "NASA astronaut Megan McArthur warns space tourists that life in orbit is no walk in the park, and that surviving takes real \"grit.\""
date: "2021-08-24"
modified: "2021-08-24"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-astronaut-tourists-grit"
categories:
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "NASA"
  - "space tourism"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "the digest"
---

# NASA Astronaut Warns Wealthy Space Tourists: Space Requires “Grit”

![NASA astronaut Megan McArthur warns space tourists that life in orbit is no walk in the park, and that surviving takes real "grit."](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/spacetravel.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: SpaceX via Flickr / Futurism\</em\>*

## Roughing It

As the space tourism industry prepares to take off, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur issued a warning to the wealthy passengers that they shouldn't expect a particularly glamorous journey.

McArthur compared surviving space travel to being an explorer back on Earth: toughing uncomfortable and dangerous situations for the sake of better understanding the unknown.

"I think it's a little bit like other exploring that people have done over the generations," [McArthur told *Insider*](<https://www.businessinsider.com./nasa-astronaut-warns-tourists-that-spaceflight-is-uncomfortable-risky-2021-8>). "You have to be willing to put up with a little discomfort and some risk, obviously. So you have to have grit, I think, in your personality to help you get through those things and enjoy those situations."

## Making Do

Between not being able to shower — who's up for a sponge bath? — and needing to sleep in a sleeping bag strapped to a wall next to an air vent that keeps astronauts from suffocating, and having to [poop into a small hole](<https://futurism.com/watch-astronaut-poop-space>) that suctions everything away, life in orbit may not be the five-star experience that anyone currently capable of [affording a trip](<https://futurism.com/first-luxury-hotel-space>) to space is probably used to.

"Things that are very, very simple on Earth suddenly become really hard — even something simple like sleeping or brushing your teeth," McArthur told *Insider*. "You have to really think about: How am I going to do this successfully and without making a mess?"

## Prep Work

Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who [bought a seat](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/billionaire-spacex-space-beer>) on an upcoming SpaceX flight, told *Insider* that he and the rest of the crew have been preparing for their uncomfortable living arrangement by climbing Mount Rainier — so at least they'll have some idea of what to expect once they leave the planet.

"They built some mental toughness. They got comfortable being uncomfortable, which is pretty important," Isaacman told *Insider*. "Food sucks on the mountain. Temperatures can suck on the mountain. Well, that's no different than Dragon."

**READ MORE:** [NASA astronaut Megan McArthur's warning to space tourists: Spaceflight is uncomfortable and risky. It takes grit.](<https://www.businessinsider.com./nasa-astronaut-warns-tourists-that-spaceflight-is-uncomfortable-risky-2021-8>) \[*Insider*\]

**More on life in space:** *[Watch an Astronaut Show You How to Poop in Space](<https://futurism.com/watch-astronaut-poop-space>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)