Artemis II astronauts warned their farts could set Orion spacecraft on fire

by

The crew of the Orion spacecraft have a unique problem: they need to be careful about flatulence.

That’s right – the astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission need to be mindful of gas. Experts say excessive flatulence could actually create a fire risk inside the spacecraft.

The newest space mission is sending astronauts to the moon—or very near it. The four-person crew began their journey on April 1st and will return to Earth around April 11th. They’re using the moon’s gravity as a slingshot to help bring their spacecraft back into Earth’s atmosphere.

Space travel is inherently risky, but there are many unexpected dangers onboard a spacecraft – even something as common as crew members’ gas could cause problems.

Orion spacecraft likely “smells like a porta potty,” expert says

According to CTV science and tech expert Dan Riskin, spaceships often don’t smell pleasant. This is mainly due to how astronauts deal with waste – both urine and feces – and the difficulty of showering in space.

I heard from Riskin that the International Space Station apparently always smells pretty bad! He compared it to the portable toilets at a rock concert – yikes! It makes sense, though, since astronauts can’t shower up there and the air just keeps getting filtered, but not really cleaned, you know?

Riskin also pointed out that a lot of research went into solving this issue, and that research is now being put to the test as the Orion crew returns to Earth.

The gases released during flatulence are actually flammable – a significant concern, and difficult to eliminate. These gases include methane and hydrogen, which are highly combustible, similar to what caused the Hindenburg disaster, he explained.

Before sending astronauts into space, a surprising amount of work went into developing food that wouldn’t cause excessive gas. It was a real concern for space program planners.

(Topic begins at 4:50)

It’s true what Riskin says: back in the 1960s, NASA tried giving astronauts bland food to reduce gas. Surprisingly, it didn’t work! Researchers found that the astronauts actually produced more gas due to the lower air pressure in the spacecraft and spacesuits.

According to a recent study, the gases produced by gut bacteria – hydrogen and methane – could be flammable in an enclosed space. While these gases are released through the anus, they are also absorbed into the bloodstream, carried to the lungs, and then exhaled into the air.

It’s understandable why the Orion spacecraft smelled unpleasant – its $30 million toilet malfunctioned only a few hours into the flight.

Read More

2026-04-08 23:19