Neil DeGrasse Tyson reminds future space-travelers that it would be dangerous to smoke weed or consume any form of recreational drugs in outer space.
In a recent interview, the renowned astrophysicist and television host was asked what would happen if an astronaut decides to light a joint and get high during a mission. The idea has not been tested, but Tyson said that it is probably not a good idea.
Getting High In Space
"The problem is, in space now, many things will kill you," the 59-year-old scientist explained. "So, if you do anything to alter your understanding of what reality, that's not in the interest if your health."
He detailed that in a spacecraft, for example, a person who does not have a complete grasp of his mind would pose a serious threat to the mission. Tyson said the person could break stuff inadvertently and put themselves and everyone in danger.
Still, he said that if it has to be done, a person could get high in space. However, they would need to lock themselves into their cabin beforehand to avoid any accidents.
Aside from knocking things over, plenty of risks come with getting high in space. For one, sparking a fire onboard an oxygen-rich environment like the International Space Station (ISS) could spread fire, ruin expensive technology or even cause the whole thing to explode.
Even edibles would not be a good idea either. As Inverse pointed out, astronauts are not allowed to bring brownie in space for the same reason why they cannot eat bread in the ISS: crumbs. Crumbs can easily float away in microgravity, enter crevices, and potentially damage of machinery. The crew onboard the orbiting space laboratory eat tortillas in lieu of bread to prevent that particular scenario.
Needless to say, getting high would probably be best done on the surface of the Earth where it is relatively safe. Besides, NASA has already taken a stand against weed or any form of drugs in space or even ground control.
The space agency has been a drug-free workplace since 1986. Employees, including astronauts, undergo random drug testing and are forbidden to take any recreational drugs whether on or off duty.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson Defends Elon Musk
The conversation was in response to a viral video showing Elon Musk smoking weed during a podcast interview with Joe Rogan. While the video was widely criticized, Tyson thinks that people are being too hard on the SpaceX founder and CEO.
"Leave him alone," he said in an interview with TMZ. "Let the man get high if he wants to get high."
Tyson only has high praises for Musk whom he calls as the "best thing we've had since Thomas Edison."
Watch the complete interview below.
