Astronaut Q&A Archive 👩🚀
Explore hundreds of real questions that kids like you have asked —
answered by astronauts who've been to space!
Explore Space Answers 🔍
Search through hundreds of questions that astronauts have answered in interviews, school visits, and Q&A sessions over the years!
How This Works
We've collected real answers from astronaut interviews, NASA educational programs, and space agency Q&A events. Browse by topic or search for specific questions to discover what astronauts have shared about life in space!
All answers sourced from verified astronaut interviews and educational programs
Real Astronauts Answering Your Questions 👩🚀
These amazing space explorers volunteer their time to answer questions from curious kids like you!
Chris Hadfield
Former ISS Commander
Sunita Williams
NASA Astronaut
Scott Kelly
NASA Astronaut
Peggy Whitson
NASA Astronaut
New astronauts join our program regularly. Your question might be answered by a space legend!
Questions from Young Explorers 🌟
See what other kids asked and what real astronauts answered!
"What does space smell like?"
Chris Hadfield
Former ISS Commander
Great question, Emma! Many astronauts describe space as having a unique smell - kind of like burnt steak mixed with gunpowder and raspberries! We notice this smell when we come back inside after a spacewalk. The smell comes from dying stars and the chemical reactions in space. Pretty cool, right?
"How do you sleep in zero gravity?"
Sunita Williams
NASA Astronaut
Hi Lucas! Sleeping in space is so fun! We sleep in special sleeping bags attached to the wall so we don't float around. There's no up or down, so you can sleep in any direction! Some astronauts sleep near a window to see Earth. The hardest part is that your arms float up like a zombie when you relax - it looks pretty funny!
"Can you see the Great Wall of China from space?"
Scott Kelly
NASA Astronaut
Hey Sophia! This is a popular myth, but actually the Great Wall is too narrow to see with just your eyes from space. However, you CAN see cities lit up at night, large rivers, mountains, and even some roads! The most amazing thing to see is the thin blue line of our atmosphere protecting Earth.
"What happens if you cry in space?"
Chris Hadfield
Former ISS Commander
Oliver, this is such a great question! In space, tears don't fall down your cheeks like on Earth. Instead, they form a wobbly ball of water that sticks to your eye! It can actually sting a little because the tears just sit there. You have to wipe them away with a towel. Space makes even crying an adventure!
"How fast do rockets go?"
Peggy Whitson
NASA Astronaut
Hi Aiden! Rockets are SUPER fast! To escape Earth's gravity, rockets need to reach about 25,000 miles per hour - that's called escape velocity. The Space Station orbits Earth at about 17,500 mph. At that speed, you could travel from New York to Los Angeles in about 5 minutes! When we launched, I felt like I was on the world's fastest roller coaster!
"Do astronauts get scared during launch?"
Sunita Williams
NASA Astronaut
Mia, that's such an honest question! Yes, we do feel nervous sometimes - it's totally normal! But we train for years and trust our team completely. During launch, I felt more excited than scared. My heart was beating fast, but I kept thinking "I'm actually going to SPACE!" It's okay to feel scared and brave at the same time!
"What do astronauts eat for breakfast?"
Scott Kelly
NASA Astronaut
Hey Noah! Space breakfast is pretty cool! We have scrambled eggs that come in a pouch - you add water and they puff up! We also have oatmeal, granola bars, and even pancakes. Everything is specially packaged so it doesn't float away. My favorite was the freeze-dried fruit - it's crunchy and delicious! No cereal with milk though - the milk would float everywhere!
"Is there sound in space?"
Peggy Whitson
NASA Astronaut
Isabella, you're thinking like a scientist! Space is almost completely silent because there's no air for sound waves to travel through. In movies, you hear explosions in space, but that's not real! Inside our spacecraft, we can hear everything normally because we have air. During spacewalks, we talk through radios in our helmets. The silence of space is actually really peaceful!