Comments on: Space is awesome: Astronaut Rex Walheim answers more BoingBoing reader questions

By: Titus

Titus — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000

Thanks Maggie and thanks to Rex for taking the extra time.

By: robuluz

robuluz — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:38:00 +0000

What a fascinating read. Very frank observation about space tourism. I loved the comment about how some retired astronauts might deal with it by ‘going to med school’. Yeah man, kick back and do that! An amazing group of people.

By: filecabinet

filecabinet — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:38:00 +0000

Thanks for this interview – space is indeed awesome and we should remind ourselves of that more often.

By: filecabinet

filecabinet — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:37:00 +0000

In the Shadow of the Moon is great. If you like that one, equally good – more focused on those personal experiences of the moonwalkers though a little less polished as a film as ITSOTW – is “The Wonder of It All”. I highly recommend it, and it’s on DVD and Netflix.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0928406/

By: Ito Kagehisa

Ito Kagehisa — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:50:00 +0000

I believe it’s caused by the nearly instantaneous oxidation of molecules that were prevented from burning up outside by the absence of oxygen. Some percentage of random space dust is flammable matter just waiting for some air, and the human nose is so amazingly sensitive it can pick up on a few parts per billion of burnt material.

I’ve heard it described as smelling like burnt black powder.

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:18:00 +0000

Thanks for this, Maggie. Just as good (if not better) than the first round of answers.

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:17:00 +0000

I’m really curious about that. Must be a study about it somewhere.

By: crummett

crummett — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:19:00 +0000

That headline made me smile- and read the story!
I’m glad to see that, as a Christian, he can reconcile science and his beliefs. He could teach some of his Earthbound brethren something.

By: JW

JW — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:07:00 +0000

Can you contact Psychedelic George and urge him(?) to check out ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’… the astronauts that traveled to and walked on the moon have had 40+ years to digest that experience and they all speak to finding or reinforcing some version of personal faith in that time. Some of them have some real poignant (albeit personal) comments. -Josh
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0925248/

By: petite poubelle

petite poubelle — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:32:00 +0000

Thank you for this. I think it’s one of the best things on BB in a while.

By: Mr. Spocko

Mr. Spocko — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:05:00 +0000

I did, but will resend.
Spocko

By: Maggie Koerth-Baker

Maggie Koerth-Baker — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Ack! Thank you for the reminder. Did you send me your address? maggie.koerth@gmail.com

By: Mr. Spocko

Mr. Spocko — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:31:00 +0000

Thanks Maggie! I’m glad that others got their questions answered.
BTW, I was one of the winners of the first round of questions, still waiting for that Jackhammer Jill pin. :-)

By: Maggie Koerth-Baker

Maggie Koerth-Baker — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:20:00 +0000

“Smells like burning” isn’t good enough for you? ;)

By: Noctilucent Studios

Noctilucent Studios — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:18:00 +0000

I want to know what their dreams are like when they are trying to sleep on the ISS. On Earth we often dream of flying. Do they dream of walking?

By: Aaron Swain

Aaron Swain — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:14:00 +0000

Man, I was really hoping space smelled like BBQ.

By: Romeo Vitelli

Romeo Vitelli — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

“Space is awesome” And I always thought Douglas Adams had the last word when he said that “Space is big, really, really big”.