Questions tagged [astronauts]
Questions regarding people present on spacecraft or space stations.
227
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21
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5answers
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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
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0answers
60 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
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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 ...
6
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2answers
874 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?
16
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1answer
358 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
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1answer
180 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 ...
11
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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
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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, ...
10
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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
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3answers
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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
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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
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1answer
346 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 ...
51
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2answers
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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
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2answers
228 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
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1answer
190 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
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0answers
104 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
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1answer
498 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
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1answer
352 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
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3answers
188 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
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1answer
203 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
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2answers
2k 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
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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
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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
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1answer
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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 ...
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0answers
110 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
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1answer
177 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
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2answers
7k 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
301 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
122 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
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1answer
125 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
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1answer
402 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
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1answer
142 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
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1answer
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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
163 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
128 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
213 views
Were flown lunar rover miniature license plates approved for the Apollo-15 flight?
A page in Space Flown Artifacts
describes miniature lunar rover license plates that Dave Scott carried to the moon and back:
These miniature license plates were manufactured by Boeing (makers of ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
How often did Apollo astronauts wear red helmets?
Images of NAsA astronaut David R. Scott performing a spacewalk during Apollo 9 show a red helmet.
When did NASA's use of red-colored helmets begin, and when did it end, and was there a special name ...
92
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1answer
17k views
Who was the first human to sleep - perchance to dream - on the Moon?
Incidentally I don't mean "on the lunar surface, asleep laying on the surface of the moon" :)
So (A) who (if anyone) was the first human to actually be asleep (that is to say, presumably inside the ...
5
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1answer
400 views
What is the procedure for scheduling on the ISS if an astronaut oversleeps?
From the accepted answer to this question there have been times when astronauts have overslept.
The morning started disastrously. I slept through two alarms, one set for 0600 and another a half-...
30
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4answers
11k views
Did any astronauts on a mission complain about waking up?
A bit of a strange question that comes from "The Martian" - in Chapter 12 is a sequence about the entire crew waking up and some complaining about it. I would expect that on a 31 day mission every ...
5
votes
1answer
620 views
Seeing the ground from the shuttle before launch?
With the side windows in space shuttle cockpit, as seen in this photograph,
could the commander and pilot see the ground at all before launch or during the first 10-15 seconds of a shuttle ascent?
...
2
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0answers
109 views
Unusual position of shuttle astronauts' arms during ascent
During the ascent of STS-135 the astronauts seem to be keeping their elbows up away from their sides with their hands forward. It can be seen throughout the ascent, here are two clips when it happens....
2
votes
1answer
264 views
How was the deep blue colour of these astronaut “jump suits” selected?
I've seen most of the time Astronauts and/or Cosmonauts wearing blue coloured clothes either on Earth or in the ISS. Is there any specific reason for the choice of this colour? I think it's to show ...
1
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2answers
122 views
What are these Soyuz Astronauts/Cosmonauts holding in their hands before launch? [duplicate]
What are these Soyuz Astronauts/Cosmonauts holding in their left hands before launch? I suspect it must be the pump for the active cooling system by pumping water similar to those in EVA suits, but it ...
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0answers
54 views
I'm two metres tall. Do I have a chance to be an astronaut? [duplicate]
I am sixteen years old, athletic and very willing to learn to be an astronaut. The only problem is that I am two metres tall. While being tall is great in life, from what I have learned it isn't quite ...
10
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1answer
1k views
What are these objects near the Cosmonaut's faces?
The obituary "Aleksei Leonov, First Man to Walk in Space, Dies at 85", includes this photo:
What are the white objects alongside each of the cosmonaut's mouths? Are they microphones? If so, why two? ...
7
votes
1answer
557 views
What protocol is in place if an astronaut kills another astronaut in or around the ISS?
Say one astronaut murders another astronaut in or around the ISS, what would happen? Are there any protocols or instructions about what to do?
Calling the space police does not seem like an option.
5
votes
1answer
201 views
Do astronauts use their toes to grip with in zero gravity?
Feet and toes are not usually as dexterous as hands and fingers but they can grip and hold things. With training and practice they can be like third and fourth hands. Are there any astronauts who make ...
13
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5answers
3k views
What is the difference between an astronaut in the ISS and a freediver in perfect neutral buoyancy?
For example, does the blood of the freediver accumulates in his/her head while being upside down, as it would on land, or not, as it would in microgravity environment ?
