Explore the Strangest Science Experiment Performed by Astronauts

In what some have called the most significant microgravity experiment yet conducted on the ISS, NASA astronaut Don Pettit has tried to enter a pair of pants by floating into them without using any force.

Known more for his amazing space photography than for his trousers-based research, Pettit posted a number of videos to his social media page over the weekend in which he attempted to respond to a few fascinating concerns about pants in space.

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"Is it possible to put on a pair of pants two legs at a time?" inquired the first. Back on Earth, the draw of gravity makes putting on pants a difficult task that is rarely executed gracefully and occasionally necessitates sitting down, depending on your ability to balance.

Pettit can be seen floating toward his pants in his first video (below), steadying himself before gripping the garment, lifting both of his legs, and simultaneously slipping into both trouser legs. If he attempted this technique on Earth, he would probably end up in the hospital, yet in space, under the ISS's microgravity conditions, Pettit does it with ease.

A short while later, in response to requests from some of his social media followers, Pettit attempts to enter his pants in one single maneuver, hands free. You’ll have to watch the footage (below) to see if he manages to achieve the feat.

Pettit has been on the space station since September. For much of that time, he’s been dazzling earthlings with his remarkable photography skills, sharing sublime images of Earth and beyond. He’s also taken time out to talk about his love of photography and what it’s like to capture images from space. Maybe he’ll soon offer some insight into what it’s like to undertake wacky science research in microgravity conditions, too.