What Does Space Smell Like?
Astronauts describe a distinct smell after spacewalks, likened to diesel fumes, gunpowder and barbecue. Some scientists link it to compounds made by dying stars, but the cause is not settled.
What does space smell like according to astronauts?
Astronauts say space has a distinct smell, like diesel fumes, gunpowder and barbecue, which they notice on suits and gear after spacewalks. Some scientists link it to compounds made by dying stars, but the cause is not settled.
Explanation
Space itself is a near-perfect vacuum, so nobody can sniff it directly. What astronauts notice is a smell that clings to their suits, helmets and tools when they come back inside after a spacewalk. They have described it as a mix of diesel fumes, gunpowder and barbecue, or of seared steak and hot metal.
Mental Floss reports that the smell is linked to compounds produced by dying stars. That is one idea. Another is that the odor comes from reactions on the surface of suits and equipment once they meet the air inside the station. The cause has not been settled.
What is clear is that the smell is real and familiar to many astronauts, even if science has not yet pinned down exactly where it comes from.
Source and verification
- Source
- mentalfloss.com Tier C
- Last verified
- Confidence
- 75 out of 100
- Verified by
- Ali Ahmad Chaudhry