 "Galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 captured by James Webb Space Telescope. File image/AP")
People have all kinds of questions about space. From how it looks to how it feels, everything about outer space fascinates them.
From manned missions to the discovery of planets, everything related to space grabs eyeballs. But have you ever wondered what these astronauts smell when they are in space?
Astronauts who have been to space describe a distinct smell when they return to the airlock and remove their helmets. While space itself is a vacuum and has no smell of its own, astronauts report that the odour that clings to their gear after a spacewalk smells like something burned, metallic, and sharp.
This odour comes from high-energy vibrations of atoms in space, especially oxygen, when they interact with the suits and airlock. When reintroduced to an oxygen-rich environment, these molecules create that unusual smell.
Here’s what you need to know: