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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:52 pm 
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Rihannsu Commander

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I guess I somehow never really looked up space suit technology... so today I came across a wiki article on the subject
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_suit
Quote:
Exposure to space without a spacesuit
The human body can briefly survive the hard vacuum of space unprotected,[2] despite contrary depictions in much popular science fiction. Human flesh expands to about twice its size in such conditions, giving the visual effect of a body builder rather than an overfilled balloon. Consciousness is retained for up to 15 seconds as the effects of oxygen starvation set in. No snap freeze effect occurs because all heat must be lost through thermal radiation or the evaporation of liquids, and the blood does not boil because it remains pressurized within the body. The greatest danger is in attempting to hold one's breath before exposure, as the subsequent explosive decompression can damage the lungs. These effects have been confirmed through various accidents (including in very high altitude conditions, outer space and training vacuum chambers).[3][4] Human skin does not need to be protected from vacuum and is gas-tight by itself. Instead it only needs to be mechanically compressed to retain its normal shape. This can be accomplished with a tight-fitting elastic body suit and a helmet for containing breathing gases, known as a Space activity suit.



Apparently Space Activity suits are a viable technology, that can be used in a pinch. I'm floored. I somehow missed this through the years.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:54 pm 
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The Dancing Cat
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Does that mean chicks in shiny skin-tight space suits? The sci-fi films of the 60's and 70's got it right?

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:01 pm 
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Oddly enough, I was just thinking about this 5 minutes ago while taking a dump.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:33 pm 
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http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_a ... 70603.html

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:20 pm 
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The Dancing Cat
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Arathain Kelvar wrote:
Oddly enough, I was just thinking about this 5 minutes ago while taking a dump.

This explains sooooo much about you. It's like you suddenly click in my head.

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:57 pm 
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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy wrote:
If you hold a lungful of air, you can survive in the total vaccum of space for about thirty seconds. However, what with space being the mindboggling size it is, the chances of being picked up by another ship in those thirty seconds are two to the power of two hundred and seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and nine, to one against.


Damn, they were off by 15 seconds


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:04 pm 
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... except, as the real physicist answers have just pointed out, HHGTTG's instructions are a recipe for death. If you *don't* hold your breath, you can live for 30 seconds or more (remaining conscious was the 15 second threshold). Holding your breath, as HHGTTG recommends, is going to get your lungs exploded.

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