The Moon Smells of Gunpowder
Climbing back into their lander covered in dust, Apollo astronauts all noticed the same thing: the Moon smells like spent gunpowder.
What was reported
After walking on the Moon, Apollo astronauts carried fine grey dust back into the lunar module on their suits. Once the cabin filled with air and they took off their helmets, several of them noticed a sharp smell that reminded them of spent gunpowder or firecrackers, or of the air after a gun is fired.
The dust also clung to everything, scratched visors and made some of them sneeze.
Explanations offered
Moon dust brought back to Earth has no such smell, so the odour seems to come from fresh dust meeting oxygen and moisture for the first time. Its jagged grains, never worn smooth by wind or water, may react with the air much as burnt powder does. The exact chemistry is still being studied, partly because the dust could be a health risk for future crews.
- When
- 1969–1972
- Where
- Descartes Highlands, the Moon (Apollo 16 landing site)
- Witnesses
- Apollo astronauts
- Status
- Partly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.