If a Cohen astronaut orbits the earth in a spacecraft, would he have a problem of ohel zorek?
Answer:
No, there would be no problem.
Poskim discuss the question of an ohel zaruk with regard to an airplane, and explain that the airplane does not have a problem of ohel zaruk, because it does not have any attachment with the ground, unlike an ohel on top of an animal, and so on.
See Shut Eretz Tzvi 1:93; see also Rav Chaim Brisker, Tumas Mes 11:5.
Of course, a spacecraft has even less connection with earth than a regular airplane.
So if you're a Cohen preparing for takeoff, you needn't have any tumah-related fears!
