Matt Kaplan of the Planetary Society interviewed me on April 20 on the fascinating subject of whether space has an odor. After repressurizing the airlock at the end of our spacewalks, Beamer and I noticed a faint, acrid smell coming from the fabric of our space suits. The odor was especially noticeable when our noses were close to the suit fabric or the walls of the airlock. Perhaps ozone generated by atomic oxygen impact while exposed to vacuum?
Listen to the interview on Planetary Radio here, along with a bit of conversation about Planetology.
I'm reaching for Destiny Lab umbilicals on the ISS, Feb. 10, 2001 (NASA)
Did you really mention Mat Kaplan on Twitter without giving his twitter address? You’ve got to say @Mat_Kaplan – geez, i had to look i up on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_Radio
Great interview. I for one would never have thought that the vacuum of space would have a smell. But then, my astronomy club has outreach to blind people. Who’d a thunk it?