What Space Smells Like and How to Recreate It

What Space Smells Like and How to Recreate It

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Space smells. But what does it smell like? Different astronauts and scientists have said different things—from seared steak to hot metal, gunpowder to welding fumes, raspberries to rum and nearly any meaty metallic description in between—but it’s known to be a gnarly scent. Now NASA wants to know for sure. It’s hired a scent chemist to get to the bottom of the smell of space.

The idea is to recreate the space smell in training so prospective astronauts can get better acclimated and not be caught off guard by the stench.