According to all twelve of the first hand accounts that describe what it’s like on the surface of the moon, Earth’s only natural satellite smells like burning gunpowder. Six of NASA’s Apollo missions that landed on the moon between 1969 an 1972 allowed the astronauts to walk on the lunar surface.
According to all twelve of the first hand accounts that describe what it’s like on the surface of the moon, Earth’s only natural satellite smells like burnt gunpowder.
Six of NASA’s Apollo missions that landed on the moon between 1969 and 1972 allowed the astronauts to walk on the lunar surface.
The early mission moonwalks ranged around two and a half hours, and by Apollo 17 they were up to 22 hours outside of the spacecraft.
All of the astronauts who walked on the moon tracked some of the dust back into the landing vehicle, and after re-pressurizing the cabin of the spacecraft, the scent of gunpowder lingered in the air.
Astronaut Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt who was onboard Apollo 17, the last mission to the moon's surface, is quoted as saying: "...I always have suspected that the olfactory sensors are reacting to a variety of unsatisfied electron bonds as one would have in both just fired gunpowder and lunar dust newly introduced in the cabin."
According to one report, space itself has a different aroma, more metallic or like seared steak, and is thought to be the result of dying stars.
Even more than forty years later, lunar scientists are still trying to figure out what makes the moon smell that way.
