Personal belongings aboard spacecraft
Astronauts can bring a limited number of personal items to space for comfort, morale, and cultural outreach. Weight, volume, and safety constraints determine what is allowed.
Typical personal items:
- Photographs, small mementos, and mission patches.
- Personal hygiene items and clothing for comfort.
- Small musical instruments or hobby materials in some cases.
- Educational or outreach items like school projects or symbolic objects.
Rules and restrictions
- Items must be nonhazardous, secure in microgravity, and approved by mission planners.
- Mass and stowage limits apply; items are counted against personal payload allowances.
- Some items return to Earth as souvenirs or as part of public engagement efforts.
Personal items help crews stay connected to home and maintain morale during long missions, but practical constraints govern what can go aboard.