Space Station Filled With Foul Odor

Sep 18, 8:11 AM (ET)

By SETH BORENSTEIN

HOUSTON (AP) - International space station astronauts pulled an alarm and donned protective gear Monday after smelling a foul odor that turned out to be an unknown vapor, NASA said.

"Things are calming down," NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries said.

The three astronauts put on gloves and goggles after noticing "some kind of vapor, primarily a bad smell," Humphries said.

Initial reports said there was light smoke aboard the orbiting lab 220 miles above Earth, but Humphries later said there was never any smoke.

Reports also indicate that just prior to and during the appearance of the mysterious vapor, Doug puttered around sheepishly avoiding eye contact.