Questions tagged [astronauts]
Questions regarding people present on spacecraft or space stations.
241
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12
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2answers
200 views
Why don't astronaut helmets fog up? What's the chemistry and thermodynamics behind keeping the field of view clear even during heavy breathing?
Some space walking involves exercise (e.g. moving heavy stuff around) and the outside surface of a faceplate is constantly radiating its heat out into space. At night that thermal radiation is not ...
9
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3answers
2k views
Which of the former Soviet republics have sent a cosmonaut into space?
The Soviet Union was composed of 15 Union Republics for much of its history and at the time of its dissolution in 1991. Which of the 15 former Soviet republics have sent a cosmonaut into space, ...
3
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0answers
70 views
Does NASA consider Joseph Walker to be an astronaut?
Joe Walker was a NACA and NASA test pilot who flew the X-15 aircraft twice above 100 km, which FAI uses their definition of an astronaut. Flight 90 achieved 106.01 km, and flight 91 reached 107.96 km....
5
votes
1answer
158 views
When did Chevrolet stop giving astronauts Corvettes?
According to Wikipedia, General Motors made a deal to give cars to the Mercury astronauts at drastically discounted prices. Pictures of America's heroes driving their cars was good marketing for GM. ...
1
vote
1answer
143 views
Is this really a picture of John Young?
This article from the Smithsonian Air and Space magazine is about eyeglasses for astronauts. The following quote about legendary astronaut John Young is immediately followed by a picture:
Even ...
5
votes
1answer
187 views
Could Chuck Yeager ever have qualified as an astronaut?
Chuck Yeager was a legendary U.S. Air Force test pilot and the first person to break the sound barrier. He never earned a college degree, although he did finish one year at the Air War College. This ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
Do astronauts wear G-Suits during the launch?
Nowadays, rocket launches (to the ISS) accelerate astronauts at a maximum of around 3 to 4g (source).
I have seen quite a few ...
14
votes
2answers
3k views
Would an astronaut experience a force during a gravity assist maneuver?
When an astronaut is inside of a ship accelerating (from engine burns), or decelerating (due to reentry) they experience a tug in a relative direction.
Suppose an astronaut is in a space ship that is ...
2
votes
0answers
84 views
JAXA/NASA astronauts on a Shuttle mission; was it like dual citizenship/joint appointment or did one agency take precedent?
Professor and former astronaut Takao Doi does many things, including being a Space Shuttle mission specialist, an amateur astronomer and discoverer of two supernovae 2002gw IN NGC 922 and Supernova ...
2
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0answers
98 views
Why did Richard Garriott have to quarantine following his trip to the ISS?
I was reading about Richard Garriott and the drama surrounding his departure from NCSoft, and I was surprised to learn that NCSoft forged his resignation letter while he was in quarantine following ...
2
votes
2answers
135 views
Did an astronaut on the Moon ever fall on his back?
I am curious to know if an astronaut on the Moon ever fell backwards and landed on his back. I have seen many photographs and videos of astronauts who accidentally tripped or lost their balance and ...
6
votes
2answers
222 views
Is there anything preventing an astronaut from opening their helmet and exposing themself to the vacuum of space?
Say an astronaut had some sort of psychotic break during a spacewalk, is there any mechanism or failsafe that would prevent the astronaut from opening their helmet and exposing themself to the vacuum ...
5
votes
1answer
682 views
Astronauts of Apollo 11 facing extreme temperatures
I recently read that temperatures on the moon can vary from -100 °C in the shade to 100 °C in the sunny part.
How did astronaut suits cope with these extreme temperatures? Is the same technology used ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Experience of breathing regular air vs. Nitrox vs pure oxygen at 4.3 psi?
Has any astronaut/cosmonaut described a difference in the feeling of breathing pure oxygen at 4.3 psi in a spacesuit compared breathing regular air at sea level or even to Nitrox used in the Neutral ...
21
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5answers
4k views
Which astronauts or cosmonauts were injured by a hard landing?
Sigmund Jähn, the first German in orbit, was injured during a hard landing of the Soyuz 29 capsule on September 3rd, 1978. He got permanent damages of his vertebral column.
Are there other astronauts ...
2
votes
0answers
66 views
What magnitude stars were seen from lunar surface?
I've seen a claim* that some of the Apollo astronauts stepped into the shadow of the LM, raised their gold visors, and looked up into the sky to see the stars. If this is true any mention of what ...
25
votes
3answers
6k views
What happens to astronaut sweat on the ISS?
Does perspiration from the astronauts aboard the ISS stick to the skin, evaporate or somehow float away from the skin?
Is the part of the sweat that sticks to an astronaut's skin kept there until they ...
5
votes
2answers
897 views
Is disabling glare common in space?
I'd like to know if astronauts have been under the effect of Disabling Glare, how easily this could accidentally happen and how long can last if this happen?
15
votes
1answer
401 views
Are there any superstitions practiced in space?
I know there are many superstitious rituals practiced on the ground before liftoff. A well known superstition/tradition is urinating on the rear right tire of the vehicle bringing cosmonauts and ...
6
votes
1answer
191 views
Taking custom software or hardware to the ISS
Before departing to the ISS, astronauts are allowed to pack some personal objects to be taken with them (see other question about packing).
What if an astronaut had some self-written software (for ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Did/does the US use statute or nautical miles to decide who gets astronaut wings?
As mentioned in a few questions and answers (1,2,3,4), US astronauts receive their astronaut wings upon crossing the 50 mile altitude mark.
Are these statute miles (1609.344 m, 5280 ft) or nautical ...
25
votes
2answers
4k views
How many people have witnessed Earthrise?
How many astronauts orbited or went around the moon and saw Earthrise?
Am I correct in the conclusion that nine missions orbited the moon or used a free-return trajectory around the moon, Apollos 8, ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Why might an astronaut wear their wristwatch very loosely aboard the ISS?
In this video of CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield aboard the ISS, he wears his watch very loosely--so that it continually bumps against different sides of his arm. I imagine this might be mildly ...
23
votes
3answers
7k views
If an astronaut needs to go to the toilet during launch, what can/need they do?
It is clear everyone that going to space is a big deal for almost everyone, and it is a known fact to me that whenever I do something important for myself, pretty much everything goes out of my body ...
17
votes
2answers
2k views
What typically gets sent to the ISS?
I'm working on a project that aims to understand what is needed to live in space. I understand the basic concepts and vital items needed, but I'd love to see a direct example of what is already being ...
11
votes
1answer
373 views
What is the backstory of this silly picture of the Apollo 1 crew?
The photograph below shows the first Apollo crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee wearing silly hats and acting less seriously than typical NASA publicity photos. All three were later ...
53
votes
2answers
9k views
Is the Skylab 4 mutiny just a myth?
Within the space history community, it is commonly known [citation needed] that the rookie Skylab 4 crew was over-aggressively scheduled by ground control. As they fell further & further behind ...
5
votes
2answers
230 views
Are deployed astronauts (e.g. on their way to or already on ISS) notified if something of importance happens to one of their family members?
The question is sparked in part by the "America's favorite dads in space" narrative which accompanies the recent Demo-2 mission, involving astronauts Rob Behnken and Douglas Hurley, as well as their ...
2
votes
1answer
215 views
Once in Earth orbit, what is the strongest propulsive acceleration an astronaut has experienced?
Early crewed launches subjected astronauts to large propulsive acceleration, usually right at the end of a stage before shut down and separation when the mass for that stage is minimum. (see ...
4
votes
0answers
128 views
What do astronauts do to pass time on the way to the ISS?
After watching those astronauts wait in the dragon capsule for so long on Tuesday, I started to wonder what do they do on the long trip to the space station? Can they get out of their seats? Are there ...
5
votes
1answer
543 views
What are the appropriate phrases to use to wish an astronaut safe travels?
When you want to wish an astronaut "safe travels", what particular phrases are commonly used?
I'm looking for historical phrases as well as more modern.
Although I'm more interested in English ...
12
votes
1answer
368 views
What is this device/object that the SpaceX astronauts are holding?
Watching the SpaceX Demo-2 launch preparation livestream, I saw both Bob and Doug using some sort of little gadget. It looks like a chunky cell phone, or a flat gopro. It appears to have an LCD on the ...
6
votes
3answers
215 views
Has anyone ever flown to space in a vehicle they helped build?
I'm sure people who build airplanes have had a chance to fly in the planes they build, and I'm confident that people who build submarines may get a chance to travel in them too. But I am under the ...
4
votes
1answer
223 views
Why didn't NASA re-use more astronaut crew members?
According to a popular space exploration web site, 355 individuals few in a total of 833 crew slots in the Space Shuttle program. That's an average of about 2.5 flights per astronaut, though many only ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Ken Mattingly was also a bachelor, so why did everyone give Jack Swigert a hard time?
The Apollo 13 Flight Journal notes that
Swigert's bachelor status was near legendary, even in contemporary times. The prime CMP Ken Mattingly was single as well, incidentally, but did not enjoy ...
43
votes
1answer
5k views
When did Jack Swigert realize that he forgot to file his taxes?
As portrayed in the film Apollo 13, astronaut Jack Swigert forgot to file his taxes:
JACK SWIGERT: Well uh, if anyone from the IRS is watching, I forgot to
file my 1040 return and I meant to do ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Could the Apollo astronauts distinguish Earth's continents and oceans from the moon?
This article "Earthshine Reflects Earth's Oceans And Continents From The Dark Side Of The Moon" indicates that the difference in reflection of light from the Earth’s land masses and oceans can be seen ...
28
votes
1answer
5k views
Did the astronauts seated on the space shuttle mid-deck have responsibilities during reentry and landing?
Space Shuttle mid-deck, it doesn't look like there is much for the astronauts there to do.
I recognize this photo was not taken during a mission.
I couldn't find an image of the mid-deck during ...
1
vote
0answers
123 views
Is it possible for a petroleum engineering graduate to become an astronaut? If not, why so? If I can, what should I learn or do then? [closed]
So the question pretty much says it all. I would really appreciate it if you guys can give some detailed explanations here for why I might or might not be able to become an astronaut. And also, feel ...
3
votes
1answer
179 views
Loose items in Apollo CM during reentry?
Would there have been any danger to the astronauts or the equipment if a soft item, like a crumpled up napkin or tissue, was loose during the Apollo CM reentry, or did everything have to be secured?
2
votes
2answers
8k views
Does the speed of ISS slow down at the time of a spacewalk or does it become stationary?
The International Space Station (ISS) is orbiting at nearly 7.66 km/s. At such high speeds, how do astronauts perform tasks outside the ISS? Or is it all relative like astronauts are having same speed ...
4
votes
1answer
327 views
When during the flights did astronauts use the Valsalva device?
A spongy material is installed to the inside helmets called the Valsalva device (top right in this image)
allow astronauts to do the Valsalva maneuver to relieve pressure on their eardrums when there ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Is there an alternate term to “fired” for the Reaction Control System?
Do the astronauts use any word, other than "fired" when referring to the use of the Reaction Control System for attitude control or translation?
1
vote
1answer
169 views
Astronauts and Time Dilation
Do astronauts experience any effects of time dilation? Based on my (very limited) understanding, both a change in speed and in gravity should have an effect - and astronauts experience both. The ...
6
votes
1answer
412 views
Do astronauts develop the ability to regularly place an object at rest inside the ISS after extended periods in microgravity?
This image from the ESA
prompted the question why the fruits at the bottom left were not floating. An online response claimed after an extended time on the ISS astronauts get used to placing ...
5
votes
1answer
166 views
What does S represent in Chris Hadfield's D = ½ ρ v² S?
Retired test pilot, CSA astronaut and ISS Commander Chris Hadfield's new Master Class advertisement video Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration - Official Trailer - MasterClass is heavily edited ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Is retired astronaut Scott Kelly now the same height as his brother?
In WIRED's new video Astrophysicist Explains One Concept in 5 Levels of Difficulty | WIRED "Astrophysicist Janna Levin, PhD, is asked to explain the concept of gravity to 5 different people; a child, ...
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0answers
58 views
What are current epidemiologic standards for space?
In the recent Mars series by National Geographic I've seen that an astronaut dies from a brain tumor because it "was not part of screening".
Now could this be real and what are health standards for ...
4
votes
1answer
196 views
Exactly how does one lope on the Moon?
This answer includes several quotes from apollo astronauts that have walked on the moon. They describe a form of bipedal locomotion they call loping.
Question: Exactly how does one lope on the Moon? ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
What biomedical data indicated Apollo astronauts were sleeping?
What particular biomedical data did NASA use to determine if an Apollo astronaut was awake or asleep?
From the APOLLO 11 MISSION COMMENTARY, page 72/1
"Our Flight Surgeon reported a short while ago ...
