Yes, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) actually age slower than people on Earth, but the difference is incredibly tiny. This phenomenon is known as time dilation, a fundamental concept of Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity, which proves that time is not absolute but flexible.
The concept can be broken down into two competing forces, how they apply to astronauts, and what it actually feels like. The Cosmic Tug-of-War
Time dilation is caused by two distinct factors that warp the fabric of space-time in opposite ways:
TIME DILATION EFFECTS ON THE ISS [ Relative Velocity ] ───► High speed (27,500 km/h) ───► SLOWS time down [ Gravitational ] ───► Weaker gravity (altitude) ───► SPEEDS time upResult: Speed wins. Time moves slightly slower for astronauts overall.*
Relative Velocity Time Dilation (Special Relativity): The faster you travel through space, the slower you move through time relative to a stationary observer. Because the ISS rockets around the Earth at a blistering 27,500 kilometers per hour, this effect slows the astronauts’ clocks down.
Gravitational Time Dilation (General Relativity): Gravity warps space-time. Time moves slower the closer you are to a heavy object like Earth. Because astronauts live about 400 kilometers above the surface, they experience weaker gravity, which actually causes their clocks to tick faster than ours. Why Astronauts Stay (Slightly) Younger
On the ISS, velocity wins the tug-of-war. The time-slowing effect of their high speed is stronger than the time-speeding effect of the weaker gravity.
The practical results of this cosmic math are very small with our current technology:
How Speed And Gravity Change An Astronaut’s Age | CENTRE FOR FOUNDATION STUDIES IN SCIENCE OF UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
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