This Is What It Sounds Like To Live On The International Space Station

Surprisingly loud

Astronaut Chris Hadfield has posted, by request, a short clip of ambient noise in the International Space Station. The majestic serenity of space this is not:

The recording took place in the laboratory module of the ISS, which should be representative of much of the craft in terms of noise level. The crew’s sleeping quarters, thank goodness, are much quieter:

On the International Space Station (ISS), most of the crew sleep in their own small cabins. If there are not enough of these for everyone on board, an astronaut can sleep in one of the ISS modules. The American quarters are private, soundproof booths where a crew member can also listen to music, use a laptop, and store personal effects in a large drawer or in nets attached to the cabin walls. The cabin also has a reading lamp, a shelf and a desktop.