Why alcohol is banned on the International Space Station – from ‘soggy burps’ to ruining toilets

IF you’re partial to a glass of wine or a can of beer, being an astronaut probably isn’t for you.

Alcohol is banned on the International Space Station for numerous practical and safety reasons.

ReutersThere’s no ‘champagne supernovas’ on the International Space Station[/caption]

GettyNasa astronaut Scott Kelly demonstrated how other beverages like coffee and tea can be enjoyed on the ISS[/caption]

This doesn’t mean alcohol has never been consumed in space.

In the 1990s, photos of Russian cosmonauts enjoying a ‘cognac party’ onboard the Mir Space Station were revealed.

The cosmonauts were said to have hid the alcohol in their space suits because they didn’t want to go without it during their mission.

Even the first liquid that was drank on the Moon was wine.

Buzz Aldrin revealed that he took a small sip of alcohol while taking communion on the lunar surface.

Although, we know humans can drink alcohol in space, Nasa doesn’t seem to think they should.

Why don’t astronauts drink alcohol in space?

According to a BBC report, Daniel G Huot, a spokesperson for Nasa’s Johnson Space Center, said: “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.”

The main reason for the sober space lifestyle seems to be due to concerns that alcohol would negatively effect equipment and the water system on the ISS.

Astronauts don’t even use things like mouthwash or perfume because these products contain alcohol.

Ethanol is a key ingredient in wine, beer and spirits and it also happens to be highly volatile and flammable.

That makes it a risk to even take to space, let alone consume.

A drunk astronaut would also pose a danger to missions as everything in space has be controlled precisely.

The ISS also uses a water recovery system to recycle urine and provide clean water for astronauts to drink.

Alcohol poses a risk to this toilet system.

If astronauts went against the rules and did drink alcohol, they may not have the most comfortable experience.

According to New Scientist, drinking beer in space may result in wet or soggy burps because the gases would be drawn to the top of their stomachs.

That’s also why astronauts steer away from carbonated drinks.