See What Life Is Like Inside the International Space Station

Cooling systems have failed and astronauts may have to spacewalk.

ByABC News

December 13, 2013, 10:02 AM

Dec. 13, 2013 -- Living at the International Space Station can be difficult and even hazardous even in the best of times, but six astronauts are confined this week to just a handful of living modules after a cooling system had to be shut down because of temperature fluctuations.

NASA engineers are working around the clock in so-called "Tiger Teams" to isolate and find solutions to the cooling problems while astronauts on board prepare for a worst-case scenario: performing a space walk to fix a valve on the outside of the station.

Take a look at these photos of what life is like aboard the ISS:

PHOTO: A photograph of the galley in the Unity node — A photograph of the galley in the Unity node, shot by a member of Expedition 31, May 9, 2012. The table has strips of double-sided tape to secure objects placed upon it, like the large spoon, center-right.

PHOTO: In this photo taken March 20, 2009, astronaut Koichi Wakata works out on the "Advanced Resistance Exercise Device" — In this photo taken March 20, 2009, astronaut Koichi Wakata works out on the "Advanced Resistance Exercise Device" in the Unity node on board the International Space Station (ISS). Though this image is from an earlier ISS expedition, Wakata is part of the current expedition's crew, dealing with a partial shutdown of the ISS's cooling system.

PHOTO: Astronaut Rick Mastracchio, of the United States, posted this photo of his sleeping quarters — Astronaut Rick Mastracchio, of the United States, posted this photo of his sleeping quarters to Twitter. He is part of the current ISS expedition, and writes of the space "I barely fit but it is home. I have my sleeping bag and computer and pics."

PHOTO: Life aboard the International Space Station — NASA astronaut Catherine (Cady) Coleman, Expedition 26 flight engineer, peeks out of her sleeping quarters on Christmas morning to view the International Space Station's decorations and gifts, Dec. 25, 2010.

PHOTO: Life aboard the International Space Station — NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, Expedition 38 flight engineer, equipped with a bungee harness, exercises on the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT) in the Tranquility node of the International Space Station, Nov. 9, 2013.

PHOTO: Life aboard the International Space Station — NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 38 flight engineer, poses for a photo with his Thanksgiving meal in the Unity node of the International Space Station, Nov. 28, 2013.

PHOTO: Life aboard the International Space Station — Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, Expedition 23 flight engineer, adds potable water to a soft beverage container at the galley in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station, May 26, 2010.

PHOTO: Life aboard the International Space Station — NASA astronaut Catherine (Cady) Coleman assists cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev of Russia's Federal Space Agency with a haircut in the Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station, Jan. 15, 2011. Kondratyev and Coleman used a vacuum cleaner to remove free-floating hair particles from the air.