The Planets

  • Planets
    • Mercury
    • Venus
    • Earth
    • Mars
    • Jupiter
      • Jupiter Red Spot
    • Saturn
    • Uranus
    • Neptune
  • Solar System
    • Dwarf Planets
      • Ceres
      • Pluto
      • Haumea
      • Makemake
      • Eris
      • Sedna
    • Moons
      • Moons of Saturn
      • Moons of Jupiter
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
      • New Moon
      • Waxing Gibbous Moon
      • First Quarter Moon
      • Waxing Crescent Moon
      • Full Moon
      • Lunar Eclipses
    • Asteroid Belt
    • The Heliopause
    • Kuiper Belt
    • Oort Cloud
    • Solar Eclipses
  • Objects
    • Asterisms
    • Asteroids
    • Comets
    • Constellations
    • Gas Giants
    • Meteorites
    • Meteor Showers
    • Stars
      • Star Clusters & Clouds
      • Types Of Stars
    • Terrestrial Planets
  • Galaxies
    • Black Holes
    • Andromeda
    • Antennae
    • Centaurus A
    • The Milky Way
    • Magellanic Clouds
    • Pinwheel
    • Sombrero
    • Triangulum
    • Whirlpool
    • Types Of Galaxies
    • Superclusters
  • Tools
    • Your Weight on Other Planets
    • Your Age on Other Planets
    • Calculate Distances Between Planets
    • Interactive Solar System Model
  • Questions

What Does Space Smell Like?

How can nothing have a smell? When you think about it, space, in its abundant emptiness should really not have any odour at all. I mean, what is there to smell in a vacuum, other than the absence of everything?

what does space smell like

And we really wouldn’t encourage anyone lucky enough to visit outer space to take off their helmet and try to take a whiff! Besides, our noses wouldn’t work in a vacuum.

And yet, there have been several accounts now from Astronauts conducting space walks, that have reported a distinct odour on return to the air-lock. There may be a few reasons for the appearance of a smell in space, and I will try to identify a few of these in answering what does space smell like?

What Are The Accounts Of The Smell Of Space?

There have been a few accounts of space having a smell. Some from astronauts, some from scientists and cosmologists. Suggestions are made based on the composition and nature of the Universe, its contents and its behaviour. Lets take a look at some of these.

Accounts From Astronauts

Many astronauts have described a smell of space. Or rather a distinct odour on their space suits or in the airlock on returning from a space walk. The smell described often varies. In one example, Apollo astronauts returning from the moon described a smell of gunpowder on their spacesuits. In another, astronauts on the ISS report smells of welding fumes or burning metal on their spacesuits.

Other astronaut accounts note smells of steak, burnt almonds, break pads or a smell of ozone. There are others too. But these examples help to illustrate the wide range of scents that astronauts have picked up on their gear after spending time in space.

Smells From Other Missions

As well as accounts from astronauts, different smells have been observed by craft that we have also sent into space. One example came from the Rosetta satellite that we sent to study comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It identified compounds responsible for creating smells of cat urine, rotten eggs and bitter, acrid smells. While the craft could not ‘smell’ these compounds, observing them burning off the comet surface into gas allows us to determine what the smell would be.

By determining the composition of planets and moons, and their atmospheres, we can make a reasonable assumption about how they would smell too.

space smell

Where Does The Smell Come From?

There are a few theories about where the smell in space comes from. They are not mutually exclusive so perhaps all are responsible in one way or another. One theory, is that on return to the airlock, astronauts have picked up atomic oxygen on their spacesuits. This then oxidizes on re-pressurization which causes a smell.

Another theory, is that as stars die, they release massive amounts of matter and energy. Some of this matter is released in the form of large clouds of hydrocarbons that carry aromas depending on their chemical makeup. To be more precise, these are known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and form when a a dying star combusts.

Does The Center Of The Milky Way Have An Odour?

According to researchers, the massive dust cloud at the center of the Milky Way will smell like, believe it or not, rum! But not only that, it will taste of raspberries! As the ability to confirm this through direct first-hand observation is likely lifetimes away, how can they know this?

Well, scientists are able to observe which chemicals are in this cloud right here on Earth. They have identified the chemical compound Ethyl Formate in this cloud, which is the same compound responsible for giving raspberries their taste. Ethyl Formate also smells of rum, and knowing this we can determine what space would smell like in the presence of this cloud.

Link/cite this page

If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content.

  • <a href="https://theplanets.org/what-does-space-smell-like/">What Does Space Smell Like?</a>

  • Stewart, Suzy. "What Does Space Smell Like?". The Planets. Accessed on May 18, 2025. https://theplanets.org/what-does-space-smell-like/.

  • Stewart, Suzy. "What Does Space Smell Like?". The Planets, https://theplanets.org/what-does-space-smell-like/. Accessed 18 May, 2025.

  • Stewart, Suzy. What Does Space Smell Like?. The Planets. Retrieved from https://theplanets.org/what-does-space-smell-like/.

Search The Universe

Popular Posts

  • Space Facts
  • Planet Facts
  • Sun Facts
  • Moon Facts
  • Types of Galaxy
  • Star Facts

Facts About The Eight Planets

  • Facts About Mercury
  • Facts About Venus
  • Facts About Earth
  • Facts About Mars
  • Facts About Jupiter
  • Facts About Saturn
  • Facts About Uranus
  • Facts About Neptune
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

More Posts from Questions

  • Which Planets Have Rings?
  • Is The Universe Infinite?
  • What Was Before The Big Bang?
  • What Is The Heliocentric Theory?
  • What Is The Geocentric Theory?
  • What is the Goldilocks Zone?
  • How Big is the Universe?
  • How Many Galaxies Are There in the Universe?
  • How Long Does It Take To Get Dark After Sunset?
  • Definition of Aurora: What is an Aurora and What Causes It?

© The Planets 2010 - 2025 | Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclaimer

Copyright © 2025 ThePlanets.org | Sitemap