All 12 moonwalkers had "lunar hay fever" from dust smelling like gunpowder
by cybermango on 4/17/2026, 6:17:01 PM
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/The_toxic_side_of_the_Moon
Comments
by: corysama
I recall an article from a long time ago that basically said “astronauts report” the moon smells like spent gunpowder and outer space smell like… I think it was ozone.<p>What they were actually reporting was the smell of the airlocks after they returned from their excursions. The moon has no atmosphere, so it has been accumulating dust from billions of years of asteroid impacts that have never come in contact with oxygen. Many of the chemicals in the dust are oxidative and so when it is exposed to air for the first time it rapidly <i>oxidizes</i> just like gunpowder!<p>And I think the outer space report was from space walks, and the explanation was that the first time the airlock itself was exposed to hard vacuum, the surfaces of the airlock would have a reaction that left a scent of ozone.
4/17/2026, 7:45:03 PM
by: ortusdux
This is a big perk of the newer lunar rover design, wherein the suits stay outside the vehicle - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Exploration_Vehicle#Specifications_(2008_design)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Exploration_Vehicle#Spec...</a><p>There has been some great research into laser or solar sintering of regolith, and one of my first questions was if the resulting material is safe for humans.<p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42008-1" rel="nofollow">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42008-1</a>
4/17/2026, 7:30:43 PM
by: krunck
Mars has toxic levels of perchlorates in the regolith. That will require that humans never come in contact with the regolith or things that touched it. Those space suits that dock to vehicles seem like a necessity.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchlorate#On_Mars" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchlorate#On_Mars</a>
4/17/2026, 7:03:19 PM
by: Patrick_Devine
Isn't this why NASA is developing the Electrodynamic Dust Shield [1] system?<p>[1] <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-dust-shield-successfully-repels-lunar-regolith-on-moon/" rel="nofollow">https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-dust-shield-success...</a>
4/17/2026, 7:59:58 PM
by: OsrsNeedsf2P
They describe the dust on the moon as,<p>> Fine like powder, but sharp like glass<p>Sounds scary. But totally worth it!
4/17/2026, 7:01:20 PM
by: hvs
If you want to get depressed about all the problems with trying to colonize Mars, I recommend A City on Mars: <a href="https://www.acityonmars.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.acityonmars.com/</a><p>It's by the cartoonist of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal and his wife (the one with an actual science PhD). <a href="https://www.smbc-comics.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.smbc-comics.com/</a>
4/17/2026, 7:49:11 PM
by: tcp_handshaker
"The toxic side of the Moon" - <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47768039">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47768039</a>
4/17/2026, 7:27:50 PM
by: m463
we have similar problems with volcanic ash on earth
4/17/2026, 6:45:47 PM
by: lucasaug
When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade
4/17/2026, 7:50:42 PM
by: jjmarr
Have any of them developed cancer from the space asbestos yet?
4/17/2026, 6:50:24 PM
by: BFV
That’s such a weirdly specific detail but also kinda fascinating. Imagine going to the Moon and the first thing you notice is “huh… smells like gunpowder.
4/17/2026, 7:04:56 PM
by: jiveturkey
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4/17/2026, 7:02:25 PM
by: ButlerianJihad
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4/17/2026, 6:52:16 PM
by: labelbabyjunior
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4/17/2026, 7:15:23 PM