Questions tagged [astronauts]
Questions regarding people present on spacecraft or space stations.
9
votes
1answer
2k views
What do astronauts do with their trash on the ISS?
Astronauts often stay more than a year on the ISS, they produce trash like any other human. Is there like a limit that they may produce ever day or maybe some measures were put in place to reduce the ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views
Did any “washouts” of the Mercury program eventually become astronauts?
The movie The Right Stuff portrays several dozen candidates for Project Mercury, who are eventually culled down to the final seven astronauts.
Did any of the unsuccessful candidates for the Mercury ...
5
votes
2answers
129 views
Can there be color blind astronauts?
This answer begins with:
It appears to have actually been a pole, not a cord.
Handrails and handholds, colored blue for quick identification, were
located throughout Skylab.
...
5
votes
0answers
84 views
How does European jurisdiction in the ISS works?
This answer notes that participant nations have jurisdiction over their modules. So in a US module, you are in US jurisdiction, etc.
Which means that in an European module, you are in European ...
5
votes
1answer
153 views
Does America's Birthright Citizenship law apply to the American side of the International Space Station?
In a scenario in which a pregnant Russian woman were to give birth while visiting the International Space Station, and if she were to give birth while on the American side of the ISS, would that baby ...
8
votes
4answers
337 views
Has there ever been an astronaut that bailed out on going to space last minute?
I’m just wondering if any astronauts have gotten cold feet last minute and have refused to go into space.
4
votes
2answers
200 views
Does sunlight warm an astronaut's face during a spacewalk?
I understand astronauts' helmets have dichroic optical filters to protect from many different frequencies of EM radiation. Do the filters prevent the astronaut from feeling warmth on their skin when ...
4
votes
2answers
87 views
Payload Specialist Training
How rigorous was training for Space Shuttle payload specialists? These astronauts were not selected from the normal astronaut pipeline, but instead were people with clout (politicians), PR ...
11
votes
1answer
272 views
How much does it cost to train an astronaut?
What are the total costs to train an astronaut from selection until they are ready to go to space? How much time does it take? And is it possible to break down the costs by category (salary, training, ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
Have astronauts in space suits ever taken selfies? If so, how?
Have astronauts in space suits ever taken selfies?
Were selfie sticks used?
If not, how was this feat accomplished?
5
votes
0answers
64 views
How frequenty have space walkers been changed based on space suit configuration?
On Friday, March 29, two astronauts were supposed to conduct what would have become the first all female space walk, Christina Koch and Anne McClain. After her first space walk on March 22, Anne ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
Which would be more prone to regolith-ice-melting issues, a rover's wheels or an astronaut's boots?
This answer to Has NASA “gone south”? Why are astronauts needed to explore the Moon's south pole? and the question What would happen if an Apollo astronaut landed on Pluto? both touch on issues of ...
13
votes
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
votes
0answers
82 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
votes
0answers
78 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
votes
0answers
157 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
vote
1answer
108 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
vote
1answer
67 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
votes
1answer
126 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
votes
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
votes
1answer
92 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
votes
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
votes
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
142 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
votes
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
votes
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
votes
2answers
166 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
votes
0answers
168 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
11k 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
264 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
votes
0answers
112 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
136 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
votes
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
votes
1answer
381 views
Did the crew of Soyuz MS-10 pass the Karman Line?
Just wondering if Nick Hague got his gold astronaut wings.
5
votes
2answers
451 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
89 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
141 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
90 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
112 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
vote
1answer
112 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
votes
0answers
135 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
800 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 ...
31
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
340 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
vote
0answers
60 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
363 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
8k 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
210 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
votes
1answer
275 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 ...
