Astronauts say space has a smell. They can't smell it out there, but after a spacewalk, when the helmet comes off, it hits them. The descriptions NASA collected: hot metal, gunpowder, "seared steak," and "sweet-smelling welding fumes." One ESA astronaut said walnuts and motorcycle brake pads. So we left the planet, and the universe smells like a man grilling in his garage while fixing the truck. What does your car smell like right now? Be honest.

Nov 10, 2026 · 5:56 PM UTC

1
6
Source, from NASA Ames, with astronaut quotes from Pettit, Chamitoff and Gerst: nasa.gov/space-science-and-a…
Interesting Fact of the Month 2021 - NASA

Interesting Fact of the Month 2021 - NASA

Ever wonder what outer space smells like? After coming back from a spacewalk and pulling off their helmets, astronauts are hit with the scent of cosmic

nasa.gov
6