Comments on: What does outer space smell like? http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:40:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Adia http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-12997 Adia Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:45:14 +0000 http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-12997 I imagine it as a sweet far off smell, that is very mysterious. I imagine it as a sweet far off smell, that is very mysterious.

]]> By: Blair Johnson http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-12788 Blair Johnson Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:54:14 +0000 http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-12788 Gasses and vapors vented from the space station would continue in orbit around the earth with the station. And then there's the propellent, exhaust and outgassing of everything we've sent up into orbit for the last 50 years. A lot of that stuff would still be orbiting. So maybe what they are smelling is the smell of low earth orbit. It would be interesting to test the smell of interplanetary space some day. Gasses and vapors vented from the space station would continue in orbit around the earth with the station.
And then there’s the propellent, exhaust and outgassing of everything we’ve sent up into orbit for the last 50 years. A lot of that stuff would still be orbiting. So maybe what they are smelling is the smell of low earth orbit. It would be interesting to test the smell of interplanetary space some day.

]]> By: Space Lover http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-11685 Space Lover Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:04:52 +0000 http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-11685 I imagine the burnt smell has a lot to do with the solar wind coming off the burning sun. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/sun/wind.html I imagine the burnt smell has a lot to do with the solar wind coming off the burning sun.

http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/sun/wind.html

]]> By: Fred Astaire http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-9191 Fred Astaire Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:16:26 +0000 http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-9191 That's an interesting thought. But if the materials that make up the shuttle were the source of the smell, it would stand to reason that the smell would still be there when it came back down to earth. Rather, I imagine that it has something to do with ionized particles in the hatch. That’s an interesting thought. But if the materials that make up the shuttle were the source of the smell, it would stand to reason that the smell would still be there when it came back down to earth.

Rather, I imagine that it has something to do with ionized particles in the hatch.

]]> By: John Baez http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-651 John Baez Mon, 30 Oct 2006 06:48:11 +0000 http://jennifersaylor.wordpress.com/2006/09/30/what-does-outer-space-smell-like/#comment-651 I bet it's not "space" that smells burnt. I bet it's hatches of rockets that have shot up through the atmosphere at high speed. I can't imagine any reason why near-earth space would have enough interesting chemicals in it to have much of a smell. I bet it’s not “space” that smells burnt. I bet it’s hatches of rockets that have shot up through the atmosphere at high speed.

I can’t imagine any reason why near-earth space would have enough interesting chemicals in it to have much of a smell.

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