Why astronauts are among humanity's most superstitious people
In short: You might expect space travel to be a purely rational endeavor, but it is governed by strange rituals. This video explores the peculiar traditions of astronauts and cosmonauts, explaining how arbitrary customs became standard practice during the early space race.
While space exploration relies on high-level science, the people performing it often adhere to unusual superstitions before each flight. These behaviors can seem bizarre without historical context, ranging from specific food choices like peanuts to unique habits regarding bathroom breaks.
Most of these traditions originated during the early days of the space race. While there are logical explanations for many of these customs, they persist as a cultural layer of the astronaut experience, blending human psychology with the extreme demands of orbital flight.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Peanuts and Peeing on a Bus: The Traditions of Going to Space
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