NASA once asked astronaut Sally Ride if 100 tampons would be enough for her week-long mission in space, but she later clarified that this number was excessive. While the engineers were concerned about potential needs, Ride humorously noted that a much smaller amount would suffice.
Tbh, this is not quite as dumb as it sounds. Tampons weigh nothing and if there’s no way to resupply, it’s not quite as dumb to take more than you need. What if, for example, there’s a series defect on these things and a large portion of them are defective?
In fact, when they asked her said it’s excessive, to which they told her they wanted to be on the safe side, so she said to cut it in half and bring 50pcs (which is still excessive for most periods, but on the safe side).
In fact, in the same mission they also brought jelly beans, which were entirely irrelevant to the mission, because Reagan insisted on his favourite snack to go to orbit. They were likely heavier than 100 tampons and also much less necessary up there.
Still a pretty dumb approach by the NASA guys. Didn’t it occur to them to ask a woman - any woman - before coming up with the initial estimate? Like “hey Sally, how many tampons do you normally need during your period? OK we’ll triple that for a safety margin.” There. Done.
They did ask her. Sure, they could have asked how many instead, but it probably came in a 100 count well within any significant mass margins, so they just asked if 100 would be enough.
They definitely come in 100 counts. This part isn’t speculation. I have no Idea what NASA procurement looks like though, and I don’t have anyone to ask.
On NASA defence is not the first time that due problems with vehicles an astronaut have to stay up there for much much much longer than their planed stance.
At the end I think the astronaut said that 50 would be enough. So the NASA estimate wasn’t really that far off. As it’s totally normal for a woman to use half or double the tampons than other woman during period.
Tbh, this is not quite as dumb as it sounds. Tampons weigh nothing and if there’s no way to resupply, it’s not quite as dumb to take more than you need. What if, for example, there’s a series defect on these things and a large portion of them are defective?
In fact, when they asked her said it’s excessive, to which they told her they wanted to be on the safe side, so she said to cut it in half and bring 50pcs (which is still excessive for most periods, but on the safe side).
In fact, in the same mission they also brought jelly beans, which were entirely irrelevant to the mission, because Reagan insisted on his favourite snack to go to orbit. They were likely heavier than 100 tampons and also much less necessary up there.
Reagan probably got Nancy to shove them up his ass while performing her famous BJs.
Presidential Manpon
When you’re dealing with the tyranny of rocketry, every gram matters.
That said, I agree with your point. The mass and volume was well within acceptable mission parameters.
Still a pretty dumb approach by the NASA guys. Didn’t it occur to them to ask a woman - any woman - before coming up with the initial estimate? Like “hey Sally, how many tampons do you normally need during your period? OK we’ll triple that for a safety margin.” There. Done.
They did ask her. Sure, they could have asked how many instead, but it probably came in a 100 count well within any significant mass margins, so they just asked if 100 would be enough.
A 100-count box seems like an absurdly large unit size. Are you doing the very thing that the anecdote is intended to highlight?
They definitely come in 100 counts. This part isn’t speculation. I have no Idea what NASA procurement looks like though, and I don’t have anyone to ask.
On NASA defence is not the first time that due problems with vehicles an astronaut have to stay up there for much much much longer than their planed stance.
At the end I think the astronaut said that 50 would be enough. So the NASA estimate wasn’t really that far off. As it’s totally normal for a woman to use half or double the tampons than other woman during period.
But it is a funny story indeed.
100/hour? That might be enough, but we really want wider safety margins, don’t you think?