That story always makes me a little “harrumph”. They act like the engineers were totally clueless when you get that number by looking at the box, applying their normal redundancy rules for consumables, and then weighing one and determining that it’s easily within their per person weight budget.
The box says one every 4-8 hours. It’s a six day mission, menses typically last six days but can go longer. The ratio for consumables is 1.5 to 2 times expected need.
Expected usage is 36, with 60 being a possibility with a mission delay and atypical period. Redundancy takes you to right around 100.
Then they asked.
Of the things they did wrong with dealing with women, the tampons are the least of it, albeit easily the most amusing.
I can get that one, but it’s definitely a bit more cringy.
Women often wear makeup for important photos in our culture, and they knew this was an important mission where photos would be taken. Same reason they gave the men shaving kits once they had more confidence.
The silly to me is that we as a society expect anyone in space to look super proper.
Also: they gave the women shaving kits too.
I believe now they just tell you to pick your preference of mandatory hygiene products like soap and toothpaste, and let you pick what you want for your the rest of your self care budget. I think most people fill up on lotion and hot sauce, if I recall.
The time Nasa sent 100 tampons to space
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250905-the-women-who-broke-nasas-glass-ceiling
That story always makes me a little “harrumph”. They act like the engineers were totally clueless when you get that number by looking at the box, applying their normal redundancy rules for consumables, and then weighing one and determining that it’s easily within their per person weight budget.
The box says one every 4-8 hours. It’s a six day mission, menses typically last six days but can go longer. The ratio for consumables is 1.5 to 2 times expected need.
Expected usage is 36, with 60 being a possibility with a mission delay and atypical period. Redundancy takes you to right around 100.
Then they asked.
Of the things they did wrong with dealing with women, the tampons are the least of it, albeit easily the most amusing.
I am more amused that they worked on and developed make up for the women astronauts to use while on mission.
I can get that one, but it’s definitely a bit more cringy.
Women often wear makeup for important photos in our culture, and they knew this was an important mission where photos would be taken. Same reason they gave the men shaving kits once they had more confidence. The silly to me is that we as a society expect anyone in space to look super proper.
Also: they gave the women shaving kits too.
I believe now they just tell you to pick your preference of mandatory hygiene products like soap and toothpaste, and let you pick what you want for your the rest of your self care budget. I think most people fill up on lotion and hot sauce, if I recall.
I would also fill up on lotion and hot sauce