This Is How NASA Banishes Odors in Space

This is how NASA banishes odors in space – The International Space Station is a big, climate-controlled environment that houses six people at any given time. As you can probably imagine, these humans produce odors just like the rest of us.

So how do NASA and other space agencies make the International Space Station a decent-smelling place to live for those stuck there for months at a time? NASA engineer Robert Frost took to Quora to answer that very question, and his answer is filled with all sorts of engineering goodness.

In the ISS’ service module, for example, a micro-purification unit removes both low- and high-molecular weight contaminants, and a Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly does this in the lab environment. Both are serviced regularly and help to keep the ISS smelling fresh.

According to astronaut Clayton C. Anderson, though these systems work well for the most part, some strong odors can permeate the ISS. For instance, if sweaty clothes are not dried properly, the ISS can smell like a locker room. So his solution is to place them on a handrail near an A/C vent, and the cold air from the vents would dry them out effectively.

Category: Useful Cool Fun