Questions tagged [astronauts]
Questions regarding people present on spacecraft or space stations.
13
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3answers
5k views
Have any astronauts/cosmonauts died in space?
After some casual reading around on the internet I got to the accidents that have occurred over the years in space exploration.
I got to wondering that while I know that astronauts have died during ...
2
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0answers
65 views
How many people could the ISS support?
How many people can fit on the ISS? At what person would life support be overwhelmed?
2
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0answers
55 views
What's the longest time that an astronaut remained in free fall?
After watching the video below (found here and here) I am reminded of the series of possibly less than 100% serious questions here about being weightless in the middle of a large volume and ...
3
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0answers
148 views
Proposed methods to use electromagnetic force to replace gravity beyond boots?
I have been wondering if there have been any serious proposed methods to try to recover some functions of gravity with electromagnetic forces for astronauts in space.
Fields generated in the floor of ...
1
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1answer
77 views
What psychiatric and psychological tests do people need to pass to become astronauts?
I am writing a short film about an astronaut during re-entry to earth. Part of the conflict I wrote is that the astronaut could not pass the mental tests required. Could anyone tell me any tests ...
1
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1answer
66 views
What freedom of movement does an untethered, thrusterless astronaut have? - with a 20lb sledge
Considering a suited human space explorer, in free space with no means of thrust or acceleration aside from their dexterity, their own mass, and that of a sledge hammer, what possibilities exist for ...
5
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1answer
106 views
How fast do they spin astronauts these days? Maximum routine g-training for astronauts in the 21st century?
Comments got me thinking about NASA's 20 g centrifuge. Gemini astronauts pushed to 7 or perhaps 8 g's as discussed in this answer but these days with nicely throttleable engines astronauts going to ...
19
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2answers
3k views
How far have astronauts been in space?
I just listened to a podcast where it was said that astronauts have only been at most 400 miles from Earth (except for the moon of course in the '60s/'70s). Is this true?
I know that the ISS orbits ...
2
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1answer
71 views
What exactly makes it difficult for astronauts to walk immediately after landing after extended stays in space?
Photos and videos of astronauts returning from the ISS being taken out of their capsule show them being mostly lifted out by hand and lowered into chairs, where they rest for a little while, then they ...
19
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1answer
1k views
Who were the youngest and oldest persons in space?
In recent years there has been much talk about the possibility of establishing a permanent space colony somewhere in the solar system. If that happens it's plausible that within the next century ...
15
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1answer
2k views
Did the Apollo astronauts ever describe reentry deceleration?
Did the Apollo astronauts describe any differences in how it felt in the CM as it passed between the hypersonic, supersonic, transonic and the subsonic zone? Did the CM shake more or less in ...
5
votes
1answer
137 views
How would humans with appropriate equipment travel the surface of Saturn's moon Titan on foot?
Taking into account the physical characteristics of Titan (e.g. surface gravity, atmospheric pressure), what would be the most efficient method of motion for an astronaut to travel the surface of ...
6
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1answer
2k views
What was the colour of the shoes used by the Apollo astronauts in moon landing?
The pictures from Apollo landing despite being in high resolution, does not reveal the right colour of the shoes used by the astronauts during the EVA on the moon. An example - Buzz Aldrin picture ...
26
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5answers
9k views
Have there ever been people trapped in a shut down spacecraft?
I was reading some one-line sad stories and came across this one:
Goodbye mission control, thanks for trying.
So I was wondering if there have ever been people trapped in a spacecraft without a ...
3
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2answers
154 views
Have astronauts seen asteroids or comets?
Have astronauts ever seen asteroids or comets from space, either by eye, through a camera, or a telescope?
0
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0answers
118 views
What would happen if an astronaut walked on mars without a spacesuit i.e. wearing just earth clothes? [duplicate]
Which will happen first: Would she die due to lack of oxygen/suffocation or due to lack of pressure/boiling bodily fluids?
39
votes
3answers
10k views
Did the Apollo astronauts ever take any medications while on their mission in order to calm their nerves?
Are there any indications that Apollo astronauts took any medication to overcome conditions like fear or claustrophobia? Or did NASA rely purely on training to prepare the astronauts for situations in ...
5
votes
1answer
199 views
Did Charlie Duke actually get the measles?
Deke Slayton: Jim, we've got a problem. I got some blood work back from the lab. Charlie Duke has the measles.
Jim Lovell: [Unconcerned] So we need a new back-up.
Deke Slayton: You'...
2
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0answers
106 views
Had Apollo astronauts practiced getting up from a fall?
The question "Could an Apollo astronaut stand up if they fell on the moon?" describes several incidents of Apollo astronauts falling over while on the moon, and their attempts to get back up.
Did the ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
How closely can ground control monitor ISS astronauts?
How closely can ground control monitor astronauts aboard the ISS. Are there cameras or microphones that the ground can use to see and hear what's happening, or are they reliant on the crew to relay ...
81
votes
3answers
19k views
Could an Apollo astronaut stand up if they fell on the moon?
I was watching old Apollo footage and noted how astronauts on the moon had a very particular gait most likely due to the poor flexibility of the EVA suits, low gravity, and need for safety.
I was ...
2
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0answers
58 views
What forces and motion would astronauts experience in a spacecraft in Earth-Moon L1 & L2 Lissajous orbit?
What is the maximum velocity they would experience? Would they be aware of the movement based on the positions of the Earth, Moon, or stars, or would it be too slow to notice? Would they feel any G ...
11
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1answer
371 views
Did the crew of Soyuz MS-10 pass the Karman Line?
Just wondering if Nick Hague got his gold astronaut wings.
5
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2answers
376 views
How long would a stranded Apollo crew have survived on the Moon?
If the Apollo ascent vehicle hadn't been able to take off from the Moon, how long was the crew expected to have survived? And what would the likely natural cause of death be?
I've heard that partial ...
-5
votes
1answer
87 views
Queries regarding deep space missions [closed]
What is deep space refers to?
We have not even explore our nearby planets (till Mars) then why space agencies are going for deep space missions (like voyager-1 and voyager-2)? What do they want to ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Do astronauts have to use sunscreen?
Of course the space suits can block most part of the radiation, but do the astronauts need to use sunscreen to protect their faces from the radiation passing thought the helmet or passing through the ...
5
votes
1answer
84 views
Where did the families of astronauts watch the launch?
Where did the families of American astronauts watch the launch from? I've heard the Saturn V Center and also the Launch Control Center. Maybe it was different for each launch? TIA
5
votes
1answer
100 views
Where and when did the traditional “wave across the ditch” take place?
I’ve heard that before a launch American astronauts had one last chance to see their family by waving across a ditch (which apparently wasn’t really a ditch?). I’m curious, where and exactly when (day ...
1
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1answer
88 views
What was it like for the family members of astronauts before a launch? [closed]
What was it like to be the family member of an astronaut in the days and hours before a launch? Specifically, I'm curious about launches during NASA'S space shuttle program. Where did family members ...
2
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0answers
124 views
How far/much time could an appendage extend outside of the ISS before succumbing to severe damage?
I was reading the question asked here in regards the Alexander Gerst's patching of a small (5mm) hole with his thumb temporarily. This got me wondering, if his thumb was only fine because the majority ...
16
votes
2answers
771 views
Was Alexander Gerst the first man to have bare skin exposed to the vacuum of space and live?
On August 30, 2018, a hole was found in the Soyuz Orbital Module on the ISS. Astronaut Alexander Gerst initially plugged it with his thumb, meaning a part of his bare skin touched space. I can't find ...
30
votes
1answer
9k views
Do Astronauts have their appendix removed?
A recenct article on the BBC news got me wondering about Astronauts in the ISS. technically they are fewer miles from the closest hospital, but the transportation is bit more complex.
Imagine that ...
5
votes
1answer
316 views
What is astronaut Alexander Gerst signaling with this K-shaped hand signal?
In this AP/WISN news item Air leak at International Space Station temporarily plugged by a thumb they show a file photo of German astronaut Alexander Gerst at the Baikonur cosmodrome, making what ...
1
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0answers
59 views
Where does one go to school to be in a space program? [closed]
I am interested into going to college. What school or degree should I take to get a seat in the Mars missions? Space Camp?
Which school has the highest student to space program statistic?
8
votes
1answer
284 views
Has the Earth's shadow on the Moon (lunar eclipse) ever been photographed from Space?
The questions
Has the Moon's shadow on the Earth (solar eclipse) ever been photographed from beyond Earth orbit?
Is this the only eclipse where Moon's shadow on the Earth (umbra) has been ...
15
votes
3answers
7k views
Do astronauts live longer than earthlings?
Why is it believed that astronauts live longer than earthlings?
So, what I would like to know is that "If the belief is correct". If the belief is correct, how does that happen (what are the ...
4
votes
1answer
200 views
Which astronaut boots might it be that inspired Michael Jackson's patent?
The BBC article Doctors explain Michael Jackson's impossible dance move describes the recently published article in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine How did Michael Jackson challenge our ...
7
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1answer
246 views
How much jerk do astronauts experience? Is there a safety limit?
From Wikipedia:
In physics, jerk is the rate of change of acceleration; that is, the derivative of acceleration with respect to time, and as such the second derivative of velocity, or the third ...
3
votes
0answers
57 views
Are alternatives to spacesuits, like one person pods, being developed? [duplicate]
I'm thinking that for extended zero gee extravehicular activities (say space construction) a single person pod (if that's the right word) would be more all round useful than a space suit. Faceplate ...
14
votes
1answer
232 views
Astronaut orientation etiquette
How does the microgravity environment on the ISS change how people interact or converse? Is it polite or common to be oriented the same direction as who you're talking to? Also, when you see new ...
1
vote
1answer
151 views
Were there special circumstances leading to these astronauts' spacewalking 5 days after arrival at the ISS?
@This answer describes two cases where astronauts performed space walks less than six days after arriving at the ISS;
Timothy Kopra (Expedition 46)
Andrew Feustel and Richard Arnold (Expedition 55)
...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Are there rules, policies, or guidelines regarding spacewalking soon after launch?
In light of this answer, where except for a few cases, space walks from the ISS are usually performed starting about a month after arrival at the ISS, are there any rules, policies, or guidelines that ...
4
votes
1answer
179 views
Who is the unnamed astronaut in this uncredited photo used in commercial promotional material?
When I linked back to Do ISS astronauts notice, or experience symptoms of elevated CO2 levels? Do they wear monitors regularly? in this question, I was surprised to find that I hadn't named the ...
6
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2answers
3k views
What is Astronaut Sunita Williams wearing on her wrist?
The most recent installment of NPR's Brave New Workers A NASA Astronaut Stays In Orbit With SpaceX And Boeing (article & podcast) covers Astronaut Sunita Williams extremely cool new job.
She's ...
1
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0answers
73 views
What are the physical requirements of an astronaut for a Mars mission likely to be?
I realize that there's a lot of speculation involved here, but current actual mission profiles have PT programs and general wellness specifications.
It seems like the qualifications would be a ...
5
votes
2answers
260 views
When astronauts or cosmonauts get seated in the spacecraft, are they actually sitting up or lying down?
This might be more of a physics question. If it is, I'll post it in the physics site.
If the spacecraft is vertical, wouldn't the astronauts be seated in a lying position so that the G forces do not ...
13
votes
4answers
2k views
How were the pilots of the space shuttle able to operate the rudder after time in space?
I've just watched this video showing three astronauts who've returned from space. At around the 5:46 mark in the video we can see astronaut Chris Hadfield being carried out of the Soyuz capsule. I've ...
3
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1answer
258 views
As they were all qualified, how/why were the Apollo Astronauts chosen for their individual missions? [duplicate]
Why did some fly multiple Apollo missions, while others flew only once?
5
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1answer
619 views
How did astronaut Ellison Onizuka's words end up in my passport?
Astronaut Jack Fischer's Tweet about the late Ellison Onizuka (lost in the shuttle Challenger disaster) mentions that Onizuka is quoted in US passports. I looked, and sure enough it's there, right ...
3
votes
1answer
150 views
Origin and history of the traditional tree planting ceremony at the Cosmonaut Hotel?
Looking through NASA Johnson's Flickr I saw this photo (and also this one). The complete caption is shown below.
Expedition 49 Preflight
nhq201609160011 (09/16/2016) --- Expedition 49 flight ...
