The unexpected reason why astronauts aren't allowed to drink alcohol in space
If you're someone who partakes in alcohol, there's nothing quite like slipping your shoes off after a long day, pouring a glass of your favorite beverage, and taking a long soak while catching up on your favorite TV shows. There are several problems with that if you're circling miles above the Earth, and as well as not being able to take a bath or binge Netflix in space, alcohol also isn't allowed up in the stars.
That might change with SpaceX's fancy space hotels, but for now, space is a dry domain for NASA astronauts.
While astronauts might want to celebrate big events like birthdays or new crew, alcohol is strictly forbidden on the International Space Station. Daniel G Huot, spokesperson for the Johnson Space Center, explained: "Alcohol is not permitted onboard the International Space Station for consumption. Use of alcohol and other volatile compounds are controlled on ISS due to impacts their compounds can have on the station’s water recovery system."
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More than just a crisp glass of Chardonnay being panned, astronauts on the ISS aren't even allowed products like mouthwash or perfume because they contain alcohol. The idea of destroying millions of dollars worth of equipment for a quick shot at Christmas simply isn't worth it.
Like how you wouldn't let a drunk pilot fly a plane, there are also strict rules that astronauts aren't allowed to drink any alcohol 12 hours before their mission. Still, a pair of tipsy cosmonauts were cleared for takeoff in 2007 when safety concerns were raised that they were 'intoxicated.'
NASA had toyed with allowing astronauts to drink sherry (because it's more stable than other alcohol) during Skylab missions in the 1970s, but as well as it 'prompting' the gag reflex in zero-G, the idea was scrapped when an outraged public learned about the potential of boozy astronauts.
Things are a little different when it comes to Russian spaceflights, and with doctors recommending astronauts on the Mir space station drink Cognac to help keep their immune systems healthy, they're known for the odd tipple. Still, the ISS remains dry.
There's also a scientific reason you can't drink a beer in space, with carbonation making it impossible. When up in the stars, there's no gravity to contain the fizz, meaning the bubbles are distributed throughout the liquid. NASA itself warns that astronauts can't expel the carbon dioxide gas through traditional methods like a burp, and with the bubbles being trapped in your digestive system, there would be some serious side effects.
The ISS continues to look at the potential effects of alcohol on astronauts in space, but unfortunately for those who want to get their buzz in space, these experiments don't involve excessive consumption.
Despite all of this, Buzz Aldrin has said in interviews and his book that he had a small sip of communion wine before stepping out onto the surface of the Moon. That sounds like one small sip for man, one giant hangover for mankind.