A science expert recently broke down how farts passed by the NASA’s Artemis II crew could pose a problem during their ongoing mission. The expert briefly explained the science behind it and also discussed other notable problems.
Expert warns Artemis II crew’s farts can be an issue on the spacecraft
On Monday, CTV News invited its science and technology expert, Dan Riskin, to talk about the ongoing NASA’s lunar flyby mission, Artemis II. During the interview, host Anne-Marrie brought up the bathroom “problem” the Artemis II crew faced in the early days of the mission.
Riskin began by explaining how the crew’s organic waste is managed. He said solid waste is stored and brought back to Earth, and liquid waste is released into space. Although the bathroom has since been fixed, the issue of flatulence remains.
“The gases that come out when you pass gas are flammable,” the expert noted. “It’s hard to make them go away. You’ve got methane and hydrogen. Like, that’s the Hindenburg.”
He went on to explain that before people went to space, the space organizations meticulously planned astronauts’ meals. They do so to prevent them from farting too much. He also recalled an incident in which an Apollo crew member accidentally left their microphone unmuted while discussing how bad the smell was in their capsule. However, Riskin added that the Artemis II crew is paying attention and gathering information on smells in space.
Earlier in the interview, the two also discussed the size of NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft’s cabin. Riskin said that the cabin is roughly the size of two minivans. It was reportedly a major concern before the mission. However, he said that the cabin becomes “roomier” in space because the astronauts can just float over one another.
On a more positive note, Riskin pointed out that although the spacecraft is designed for a month-long mission, the current mission will last only 10 days. He added that having a cooperative crew makes it all the easier.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on Mandatory.
