According to astronauts, what does space smell like when re-entering a space station?
A) Fresh air and flowers
B) Burnt toast and metal
C) Seared steak, hot metal, and welding fumes
D) Clean ozone and pine
✅ Correct Answer: C) Seared steak, hot metal, and welding fumes
Why Does Space Smell This Way?
While space is a vacuum and technically has no air (and thus no smell in the traditional sense), the scent astronauts report is due to chemical reactions that occur:
-
When high-energy particles from space interact with materials on the outside of a spacesuit or spacecraft.
-
Upon re-entering the pressurized space station, these excited molecules mix with the cabin air and release a distinctive odor.
This is not the smell of space itself, but rather a byproduct of space exposure reacting with air when the astronaut returns indoors.
⚛️ Scientific Explanation:
The scent likely results from ozone, ionized particles, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—compounds formed by:
-
Solar radiation
-
Cosmic rays
-
Space dust collisions
These molecular reactions leave a metallic or burnt smell, similar to the one you get after using a welding torch or smelling burnt steak on a grill.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments