Ask the Astronaut: What does space smell like?

Q: What does space smell like?

Of course, outside in the vacuum of space, there are no molecules or atoms to smell, and my nose was inside a space helmet where I could not sniff the aroma of space anyway, But whenever I got out of my spacesuit in the airlock after an EVA (spacewalk), I smelled a trace of this peculiar, almost acrid odor. Astronauts call it “the smell of space.” I could still detect it as I was stowing my gear or tools in the airlock. To me, the odor was like ozone, hot electrical insulation, or  gunpowder. I think the odor is probably ozone-related. Outside, atomic oxygen (single atoms) stick to the fabric’s exterior surface, and perhaps to airlock walls and tools. This atomic oxygen is created from atmospheric O₂ when struck by solar ultraviolet radiation. When you repressurize, the single atoms of oxygen combine with O₂ in the cabin atmosphere to make ozone, O₃. That’s what I think I was smelling.

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Tom Jones | READ MORE

Former astronaut Tom Jones is a scientist, author, and pilot. In more than eleven years with NASA, Tom flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. On his last flight, he led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. He has spent 53 days working and living in space. He is is currently writing “Space Shuttle Voices,” recording astronaut experiences during the space shuttle’s 30-year career. See his full bio here.