Smell Trek

As the Constellation program (kind of) goes forward, NASA is asking itself (and other specialists) some really weird questions that may affect the life of the astronauts as they advance towards their three-year mission to Mars. And you'll love what they're thinking about.

One of those questions and projects has been commissioned to Steven Pearce, chemist and managing director of fragrance manufacturing company Omega Ingredients: What is life in the Orion spacecraft going to smell like?

"For them, what comes across is a smell of fried steak, hot metal and even welding a motorbike."

There you have it, fried steak and hot metal. Much like my apartment on a Tuesday night. Omega Ingredients is working on this space fragrance based on the testimonies of the astronauts who have been in space, which would be used by NASA to increase the realism of their simulations. Y'know, because simulations for people ought to be realistic down to the smell.