If you’ve ever wondered if farts were strong enough to propel you in space, you’re not alone.

And that question has now been answered by someone who would know: retired U.S. astronaut Terry Virts, who has served as commander of the International Space Station and pilot of the space shuttle Endeavour during his two trips into space.

The bad news?

Well ― they aren’t. Sorry.

The conversation started, innocently enough, with a tweet by astrophysicist Katie Mack on the plot device of magnetic boots for use in zero-gravity situations: