Yi So-yeon might know what it feels like to be an alien from outer space. At least that’s what a group of Khazakstani nomads assumed when the astronaut emerged from her space capsule after a ballistic re-entry in 2008. Yi and her crew mates survived the emergency landing when their Soyuz vehicle malfunctioned, forcing a “vomit comet” spin at about 500 km per second. While most astronauts routinely tolerate gravitational forces 4 times stronger than Earth’s, this crew stomached a hefty 10g. Lucky for Yi, she was given essential advice while aboard the International Space Station ― throw up in the better-smelling American-made vomit bags, but wipe up with the far softer Russian toilet paper.