The Smell of Space: What It Really Smells Like According to Astronauts

Jakarta –

The nose is one of the five senses with the function of smelling bau. We are familiar with various types of smells, such as the aroma of coffee brewed in the morning, the smell of the bakery we pass, to the unique and calming smell of rain. There are also unpleasant odors, for example underarm odor, fart, and even bad breath.

But, like what the smell of the universe We? How do we smell when we are in space? The answer can vary, depending on where you are and what you are trying to identify the smell of.

Launch IFLSciencefor astronaut reports that the International Space Station (ISS) does not have a pleasant smell. Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti described it as a persistent ‘strange smell’ that took a few days to get used to.

So, when a gap is opened or you have just returned from a space walk, there will be a strange smell in the ISS air. Astronauts describe it differently, some say it smells metallic, like welding fumes, like gunpowder, even like the smell of burnt steak.

Testimonials also came from Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who walked on the Moon in December 1972. He not only said what he smelled but also said that he experienced a reaction to moon dust. Schmitt’s nose even experienced swelling upon first contact with dust on the Moon. Up on Earth, the allergies still persist.

“All I can say is that everyone’s instant impression of the smell was that of spent gunpowder, not ‘metallic’ or ‘sharp’. The smell of spent gunpowder probably sticks in our memories more than any other similar smell,” Harrison Schmitt told Space.com.

Smells on another planet

There are various types of gases found in planetary atmospheres and most of them are odorless. These gases include hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and methane. But, the main molecule commonly found is ammonia, both Jupiter and Uranus have it in their atmospheres. Ammonia is notorious for smelling like urine or sweat, so it has an unpleasant odor.

Meanwhile, Venus, Mars, and Uranus have similarities in the presence of hydrogen sulfide, which is also known as drain gas, damp odor, and sewage gas. This is a smell similar to rotten eggs and the smell of farts.

Because of this, it could be said that Earth is not only the most habitable planet in the Solar System, but also the most fragrant planet among the other planets.

Watch the video “How Fuji An Takes Care of Underarms to Avoid Body Odor”

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2024-04-11 00:30:26
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