Moon Dust smells like Gunpowder

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Moon Dust smells like Gunpowder

Posted: 2/2/2006 1:25:00 AM EDT

"It is really a strong smell," radioed Apollo 16 pilot Charlie Duke. "It has that taste -- to me, [of] gunpowder -- and the smell of gunpowder, too." On the next mission, Apollo 17, Gene Cernan remarked, "smells like someone just fired a carbine in here."

Schmitt says, "All of the Apollo astronauts were used to handling guns." So when they said 'moondust smells like burnt gunpowder,' they knew what they were talking about.

science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/30jan_smellofmoondust.htm?list3244

Posted: 2/2/2006 2:40:03 AM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
"It is really a strong smell," radioed Apollo 16 pilot Charlie Duke. "It has that taste -- to me, [of] gunpowder -- and the smell of gunpowder, too." On the next mission, Apollo 17, Gene Cernan remarked, "smells like someone just fired a carbine in here."

Schmitt says, "All of the Apollo astronauts were used to handling guns." So when they said 'moondust smells like burnt gunpowder,' they knew what they were talking about.

science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/30jan_smellofmoondust.htm?list3244

So the moon was once a huge firing range?!?!? WOW! I guess that means that they had some awesome full auto weapons (I beleive that you would have the bullets leaving orbit, have to check on that).

Posted: 2/2/2006 2:45:50 AM EDT

[#2]

Next time I go up, I'll load some 5.56 with it...see what happens.

Posted: 2/2/2006 2:49:05 AM EDT

[#3]

I'll bet Uranus smells like Wolf...

Posted: 2/2/2006 2:51:13 AM EDT

[#4]

Do you think the rounds would actually fire since there isn't any oxygen to feed the combustion? Can we charter a Russian space capsule to take some of us to the moon and try this? MJD

Posted: 2/2/2006 4:53:05 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Do you think the rounds would actually fire since there isn't any oxygen to feed the combustion? Can we charter a Russian space capsule to take some of us to the moon and try this? MJD

Do you think there is enough oxygen in the case stuffed with gunpowder to support cumbustion? It's a chemical reaction. Gunpowder carries it's own oxygen chamically in the compounds that make up gunpowder. I hope you already knew this.

Posted: 2/2/2006 4:57:18 AM EDT

[#6]

Of coarse it smells strong still....hell it's been vacuum packed for maximum freshness, since it's been fired!!

Posted: 2/2/2006 4:57:22 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Do you think the rounds would actually fire since there isn't any oxygen to feed the combustion? Can we charter a Russian space capsule to take some of us to the moon and try this? MJD

I'm pretty sure cartridges are air-tight. If they needed outside oxygen to go off, they wouldn't fire at all.

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:01:08 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I'll bet Uranus smells like Wolf...

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:03:27 AM EDT

[#9]

So what they're saying is if we can light a spark on the moon, we'll have the mother of all KABOOMs?

Cool!

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:11:24 AM EDT

[#10]

In before someone says we did not land on the moon.

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:13:18 AM EDT

[#11]

I recall that it was due to the compounds in the moon dust oxidizing upon being exposed to air.

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:14:07 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
So what they're saying is if we can light a spark on the moon, we'll have the mother of all KABOOMs?

Cool!

No air = no fire.

Of course, without the moon, our tides would stop working and we'd have a whole host of other big problems.

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:17:09 AM EDT

[#13]

Ewwwww, he tasted it?

I thought the astronauts would have known the moon wasnt made of cheese...

Kharn

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:17:42 AM EDT

[#14]

So does that mean that the "moon people" are Pro 2nd Amendment?

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:18:25 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Quoted:
So what they're saying is if we can light a spark on the moon, we'll have the mother of all KABOOMs?

Cool!

No air = no fire.

Of course, without the moon, our tides would stop working and we'd have a whole host of other big problems.

Dude. Lighten up. It's too early in the fucking morning to be that serious.

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:20:15 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
So what they're saying is if we can light a spark on the moon, we'll have the mother of all KABOOMs?

Cool!

Should we rename it.... GLOCK

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:22:05 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Quoted:
So what they're saying is if we can light a spark on the moon, we'll have the mother of all KABOOMs?

Cool!

Should we rename it.... GLOCK

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:25:49 AM EDT

[#18]

Lunar regolith is mostly aluminum and silicon oxides with traces of titanium and other metals. Actually lunar regolith is almost entirely devoid of organic compounds and sulfer so I'm not sure where the gunpowder smell would come from.

Posted: 2/2/2006 5:59:04 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Lunar regolith is mostly aluminum and silicon oxides with traces of titanium and other metals. Actually lunar regolith is almost entirely devoid of organic compounds and sulfer so I'm not sure where the gunpowder smell would come from.

Gunpowder also smells like rotten eggs(the sulfur). So maybe one of the astronauts cut a fart in the lander.

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:00:41 AM EDT

[#20]

Walking on the moon.....

Damn. I still can't wrap my mind around just how cool that must have been!

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:01:24 AM EDT

[#21]

Didn't they notice the "NO SMOKING" sign when they landed?

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:03:36 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Walking on the moon.....

Damn. I still can't wrap my mind around just how cool that must have been!

It was pretty neat. I'd like to do it again someday.

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:17:15 AM EDT

[#23]

C'mon guys, where do you think the Space Shuttle door-gunners go to get some trigger time?

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:18:21 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

It was pretty neat. I'd like to do it again someday.

Yeah?

Did the sound stage provide air conditioning?

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:20:52 AM EDT

[#25]

Wow, I just had a thought. What happens when you fart in a space suit.

Posted: 2/2/2006 6:29:02 AM EDT

[#26]

Wow, I just had a thought. What happens when you fart in a space suit

I guess you havent seen "Rocket Man"

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Moon Dust smells like Gunpowder

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