So what is life in space really like?

Ever wondered what life was truly like in space? You can watch the excellent hi-def video above or read this fascinating interview with an astronaut who's living aboard the ISS that was conducted by science fiction author Bruce Sterling.

The interview was actually conducted by email and if you were ever wondering how they send electronic messages from space, the astronauts used Microsoft Outlook, although not in the same way that you or I do.

Sterling's interview was with Nicole Stott, who you might have guessed from her name, is a woman. These days, we don't think twice about female astronauts, but at the beginning of the space age, they were unheard of. There were some pioneering women back then that tried to break the gender barrier, but didn't succeed. They are famously known as the Mercury 13, but, unlike the Mercury 7, their male counterparts, they never made it into space.

And if you ever wondered whether or not astronauts are science fiction fans, you'll need more evidence than this. Mission Control recently used the theme song from Firefly to wake up the shuttle crew.