6 facts
Upon returning to spacecraft after spacewalks, astronauts report a metallic, slightly acrid aroma, often compared to seared steak, hot metal, or welding fumes. This scent is believed to come from dying stars.
Astronauts returning from spacewalks report a unique aroma clinging to their suits, attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These molecules are created by dying stars and exist throughout the cosmos, giving space its peculiar scent.
Upon returning to the spacecraft after spacewalks, astronauts often describe the smell of space as a mix of hot metal, seared steak, and welding fumes, possibly due to high-energy vibrations in particles.
Due to special relativity, astronauts on the International Space Station move at high speeds, causing time to slow down for them compared to people on Earth. They return to Earth a tiny fraction of a second younger than they would have been, a real-world demonstration of Einstein's theory.
Without the constant pull of gravity, the vertebrae in an astronaut's spine are no longer compressed, allowing the discs to expand slightly. This temporary increase in height reverts to normal upon returning to Earth, as gravity reasserts its influence.
In microgravity, tears don't fall due to the lack of gravity. Instead, they cling to the eye and form a watery ball, which can cause stinging and blurry vision, making crying an uncomfortable and difficult experience for astronauts.