What Does Space Smell Like? If There Was No Air, How Did Astronauts Smell?

Our knowledge about space is still very limited. Although research has been ongoing for more than half a century The universe is so big and full of mysteries We are at the very beginning of everything.

During all this research, there are many issues we wonder about. For example, the subject of our content today is the smell of space. Is there really a smell in space? Even if there is, wouldn’t astronauts die if they took off their helmets and smelled it? Let’s explain one by one.

What does space smell like?

Because there is no air in space like on Earth technically you can’t smell anything. If astronauts had tried this, they would have died anyway. But there are still molecules in space. During the Apollo mission, astronauts variously described the smell they smelled when they entered the spacecraft and removed their helmets.

They often smelled gunpowder, burnt metal, and burnt steak. Even burnt almond cookies There were even those who made very specific definitions by saying: These smells were of course coming from the clothes they were wearing.

So what is the source of the smell?

Scientists have two different theories about the source of the smell. First, when astronauts travel in space oxygen atoms sticking to your clothes and when they return, they are exposed to pressure and combine with other oxygen atoms, creating a kind of smokeless combustion and a burning smell.

The second is like burnt meat or burnt toast. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in charred foods its emergence in space as well. This situation, which usually occurs when stars explode while in space; In our world, it can occur when materials such as wood, meat, tobacco and coal are burned.

Let’s see what happens in this regard in the future What surprising facts about space are we curious about? Will more emerge?

To go a little deeper into space: