This is one of those extremely bizarre and disgusting curiosities: would you be able to use your intestinal gases as propellants if you were in zero gravity? It may seem a doubt to those who love to joke, but some of the most renowned astronauts in history have tried.

Unfortunately, NASA never did a real experiment on the subject, but crew members of the International Space Station have told you what it was like to do the test on your own. The popular Chris Hadfield, who spent nearly three months in space, has the answer. “A lot of astronauts have tried it, but, let's face it, there is no right propulsion nozzle, ” he explains.

The subject was explained in a Reddit interview session. One of the forum users wondered if it was possible to get “stuck” somewhere in the Space Station while floating, unable to hold on to any wall or structure to take propulsion. And as one subject leads to another, soon one of the greatest astronauts of recent times was talking about farting in space.

Chris Headfield says astronauts have tried to use their little fists to get around the Space Station.

Stocking “wind”

Two major problems interfere with the use of the fist-based human thruster as a means of locomotion in zero gravity: first is the use of clothing, which would stifle astronaut gases; Second, the rectum and anus do not have the proper aerodynamics of a propulsion rocket.

It would be necessary to introduce some kind of downward converging nozzle that would compress the fart's output and then release it with a certain speed. The Fight Club website even talked to one of Rolls-Royce's propulsion engine experts, Adrian Sitler, who also explained that another problem is that the fart comes out of our body with subsonic speed.

But thinking of some object that turns the gases into propellants must also take into account some other factors: the size of the outlet orifice and the return of the expelled flow. In addition, an alleged propellant of this kind would need to “stock up” on gases since more is needed than we normally fart.

In addition to gases being subsonic, it would be necessary to store them

Device

After several physical and scientific calculations, Jason Torchinsky, author of the article, came to a "prototype" of what this device could be. He dubbed it Anal Propulsion Enhancement via Funnel Actuated Rocketry Tool (APE-FART), or, in free translation, Anal Propulsion Enhancement via Funnel Driven Rocket Tool.

APE-FART's effectiveness, however, should only be a few feet - enough to get you out of a place that is "stuck" while floating in the Space Station to the nearest wall. Would it be worth so much effort to develop this technology? Apparently it must be easier (and less invasive, of course) to call a colleague to give you a little push, don't you think?

APE-FART would work for short distances

Anyone who farts too much can become a rocket with this invention! Comment on the Mega Curious Forum

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What did you think of the crazy device created by the designer? Do you believe any astronaut would submit to testing it?