Does Space Smell?

Hospitals, bakeries, supermarkets and department stores. They all have one thing in common – their own distinctive smells. And according to astronauts, outer space also has its own unique aroma. In fact, the smell of space is so distinct that NASA enlisted the help of fragrance manufacturer Omega Ingredients to recreate the scent for use in its training simulations.

So what does space smell like? The best description is a potent bouquet of Nascar race track, hot metal, barbeque and diesel fumes. No, this isn’t caused by spacecraft materials. Instead, scientists explain that it’s the scent of dying stars. As stars undergo rampant combustion they emit compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Founder and director of NASA’s Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Lab Louis Allamandola asserts that these molecules "seem to be all over the universe. He explains that they simply float around infinitely, making an appearance in meteors, comets and space dust. They’re also found on Earth, in matter such as food, coal and oil.

Sizzling steak in outer space?

While it would be impossible for humans to get a pure whiff of outer space, compounds do cling to suits. Post exploration, astronauts have reported smells of fried or burning steak. More than simply be hunger pangs, Allamandola puts space’s pungent aroma down to the fact that the solar system is rich in carbon and low in oxygen. “Just like a car, if you starve it of oxygen you start to see black soot and get a foul smell," he explains.

Even more fascinating is the fact that outside our galaxy, space smells are even more interesting. From sweet sugary smells to the sulfuric reek of rotting eggs, the universe is home to a smorgasbord of scents. In 2009, astronomers released new research citing that the galaxy is home to a dust cloud containing ethyl formate, a chemical that smells distinctly of rum.

Straight from the astronaut’s nose

When asked for their own personal insight, the world’s most illustrious astronauts came up with some interesting commentary.

“To me, space smells like a mixture between walnuts and the brake pads of my motorbike,” Tweeted Alexander Gerst.

“The best description I can come up with is metallic; a rather pleasant sweet metallic sensation. It reminded me of my college summers where I labored for many hours with an arc welding torch repairing heavy equipment for a small logging outfit. It reminded me of pleasant sweet smelling welding fumes,” revealed Don Petit in Space Chronicles.

Tweets from space are becoming increasingly popular, and play an important role in inspiring the next generation of scientists. For more information, ‘Bringing Science back into the Curriculum’ is a great write up on the latest efforts from the Royal Microscopical Society.