We have mentioned the ‘new-car smell‘ of a fresh Automated Transfer Vehicle before, but never wondered how long it takes for it to dissapear. ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and ATV Georges Lemaître loadmaster provides the answer in this tweet:
Both @astro_reid and I recently noticed that #ATV5 has finally traded the scent of a brand new space ship for a neutral #ISS scent
— Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) October 23, 2014
So from docking on 12 August to now gives roughly two months for a newly-arrived spacecraft to blend in with the International Space Station.
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