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Douglas H. Wheelock

@Astro_Wheels

Test Pilot; NASA Astronaut: STS-120 & ISS-25; Space Station Commander; Living a life of faith inspired by quiet moments...

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Exiting the airlock on EVA 2 in the daylight.  The colors of the Earth just explode at you as you exit toward the planet. Notice what looks like scorch marks on the hatch thermal cover, the effect of vacuum and atomic oxygen on the threads and thread sealant used on the thermal cover. The ‘smell’ of space follows suit, I’ve heard it described like burnt cake or cookies, or like the smell of an extinguished match.

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650 days ago

Exiting the airlock on EVA 2 in the daylight. The colors of the Earth just explode at you as you exit toward the planet. Notice what looks like scorch marks on the hatch thermal cover, the effect of vacuum and atomic oxygen on the threads and thread sealant used on the thermal cover. The ‘smell’ of space follows suit, I’ve heard it described like burnt cake or cookies, or like the smell of an extinguished match.

31 Comments

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JQsan 636 days ago

Brilliant Shot! I agree with ZZay. Is that corrosion?

Zzay 647 days ago

great photo but why is the airlock cover burnt?

PC0101 648 days ago

Yes. Here U see such a man U know in the kitchen on board: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-120/html/iss016e009700.html

Stelygs 648 days ago

and cooking, if possible ;-)

PC0101 648 days ago

Of course, the more when there is a man on board doing the vacuum cleaning ;-))

Stelygs 649 days ago

Spectacular! Sounds like one of those "one small step for a man"-epic moments...surprising, space smells like my kitchen after my visits, I'd perfectly feel at home in space ;-)

hujaquito 649 days ago

This is really fantastic.

Shawnee 649 days ago

Wow. wow. wow. How will you ever be content to live on Earth again?

PC0101 649 days ago

Alex & Mikhail presently are shooting additional “Chronicle” newsreel footage using the SONY HVR-Z7 #2 high-definition camcorder to create “Flight Chronicles”.

PC0101 649 days ago

NASA and the astronauts know that but rarely tell it.

franosch 649 days ago

A VERY, VERY cool image this. Plus very interesting info. Soichi, who is he? (~_^)

LuisaNievesIna 650 days ago

This photo submerges me in a reflexion proccess about the greatness of human beings and the importance of science. And I'm very happy because we will have a wonderful future thanks to people like you scientists.

kahimiena 650 days ago

模型みたいですけど,本当の写真なんですね〜すごいです

y2_jedi 650 days ago

What a fine & clear pic!

amadablin 650 days ago

Truly a great pic! Amazing I watched all the luna and Nasa's early flites and its just amazing that I can now see all this on my phone carry on the brilliant job!

sLange_Windsor 650 days ago

I don't understand - how/why is there a "'smell' of space" when your oxygen supply is in a tank?

foxybrush 650 days ago

WOW! Amazing photo. You guys do the most fantastic job, ever!

STfangirl 650 days ago

The view is always very good from Soyuz :-) Which Russian guy was the photographer? Fyodor?

(a_cup_of_sea: :-DDD)

a_cup_of_sea 650 days ago

Did you FALL into a hole??? In zero-G??? ;)))

PC0101 650 days ago

Good to hear that space does not smell like a congested highway. What when hundreds of stations and spaceships will be cruising around?

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