2024-01-11 13:39:51
While it is not possible for humans to take a breath of space air at the risk of dying, astronauts have reported smelling particular odors clinging to their clothes upon their return to the space station after having explored space.
• Read also: NASA’s return to the Moon postponed to 2026
• Read also: A luminous phenomenon observed in the sky of Quebec
Indeed, during Apollo missions to the Moon, but also after exits from the International Space Station, several astronauts reported smelling an odor similar to that of gunpowder, ozone – similar to water from Bleach – or even burnt steak, according to what the space news site Space.com reported on Monday.
According to scientists, the odor of ozone (O3) could come from individual oxygen atoms that cling to spacewalk suits, before being pressurized again in the space cabin, combining with ambient air to form O3.
Regarding burnt meat, the odor could be explained by the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), molecules that are found both in burnt toast and grilled meat, but also in space, according to the American media.
However, space would not always have the same smell: in 2014, the European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe would have detected numerous molecules around a comet, which would probably have given off a slight smell of rotten eggs, urine, sweet almond and formalin, used to disinfect or preserve tissues.
Indeed, scientists have noted the respective presence of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde in its gaseous halo, according to Space.com.
The most surprising thing is that the gas surrounding the molecular cloud of gas and dust Sagittarius B2, nearly 400 light years from the center of the Milky Way, could give off an odor similar to…raspberry rum.
Indeed, its cloud would contain a lot of alcohol, including vinyl alcohol, methanol and ethanol, which are found in wine, beer and spirits, as well as ethyl formate, in party responsible for the smell of rum and raspberry, concluded the American media.
1704981511
#Burnt #steak #raspberry #rum #gunpowder #smell #space #astronauts