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Astronauts uniformly report that "space" has a distinct odor. Anyone know what the odor reminds them of?

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Asked By: extra55 41-45, M  2 years ago

OK folks--the answer is:

it smells like frying steak.

Really. That's not so bad-- but I imagine if you're feeling nauseas (a big problem up there) it'd be terrible.
Gotta award LonelyWanderer for the explanation and in recognition of the votes recv'd by others.

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7 Answers to "Astronauts uniformly report that "space" has a distinct odor. Anyone know what the odor reminds them of?"

  1. Sleeplessinla - 41-45 years old

    Posted by Sleeplessinla Nov 10th, 2010 at 12:29AM

    Can't breath in space, so you can't smell. What they smell must be in the space suit.

    Like (1)

  2. TonyCantlay - 56-60 years old - male

    Posted by TonyCantlay Nov 7th, 2010 at 12:50PM

    Regret to say the answer is obvious, and sad. Just like Mount Everest, space is now full of garbage, including human waste, which has been routinely dumped ever since man started exploring the realm. Just mucked it up, as on Earth. Nothing more mysterious than that.

    " Debris growth
    Faced with this potentially worrying scenario, as early as the 1980s NASA and other groups within the U.S. attempted to limit the growth of debris. One particularly effective solution was implemented by McDonnell Douglas on the Delta booster, by moving the boosters away from their payload and then venting any remaining fuel in the tanks. This eliminated the pressure build-up in the tanks that had caused them to explode in the past.[22] Other countries, however, were not as quick to adopt this sort of measure, and the problem continued to grow throughout the 1980s, especially due to a large number of launches in the Soviet Union.[23]" Etc.

    T.C.

    Like (1)

  3. extra55 - 41-45 years old - male

    Reply by extra55 Nov 8th, 2010 at 8:44AM

    Honestly--the atmosphere above the earth is a huge space. If the combined mass of half the earth were broken-up and hurtled into orbit around the remnant of earth-there'd still be plenty of room to manouvre around debris. Think about it. if the atmosphere is measured as a sphere surrounding the earth, it'd be about the size of Neptune--and that's big. All the combined objects that have been sent to orbit since the late 50's and remain in place are comparitively like specs of dust floating around a basket ball. They're of no significance and subject to the same rules of earth-although to a lesser degree: What goes up must come down. If it's a problem, it'll take care of itself.

    Like (1)

  4. Undertone - 41-45 years old - female

    Posted by Undertone Nov 7th, 2010 at 12:45PM

    Ha Ha!! They didn't go to the moon!!!

    Like (1)

  5. abstraction - 46-50 years old - male

    Posted by abstraction Nov 7th, 2010 at 12:11PM

    Space is a vacuum. If an astronaut took their helmet off and was exposed to it, the air inside the lungs and digestive tract would expand. The air bubbles would rupture their lungs. All the moisture on the eyes and mouth would boil - and would gradually occur within the muscles and tissues. The nitrogen in the body would form bubbles, giving the bends. Maybe the first ten seconds they would be uncomfortable, then the oxygen starvation of the brain would create hypoxia...

    Sorry - which ones said they could smell something?

    Like (1)

  6. ronaldjroach - 56-60 years old

    Posted by ronaldjroach Nov 7th, 2010 at 12:04PM

    I'm guessing the air filtration system on a submarine.

    Like (1)

  7. koyptakh - 51-55 years old - male

    Posted by koyptakh Nov 7th, 2010 at 11:49AM

    Hi extra55
    Astronaught
    :)

    Like (1)

  8. BadBeast - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by BadBeast Nov 7th, 2010 at 11:20AM

    Freshly boiled Kippers.

    Like (1)

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