Why is Space a Vacuum

[Baron Munchausen]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
Actually you can survive in a vacuum about as long as you can survive under water. A couple minutes, or more if you have decent lung capacity and can fight the natural urge to gasp for breath. The idea that you would blow up if pushed out an airlock is false. You can hold your breath. You will have damage from the extreme cold though. That alone would kill you eventually, but it would take a little longer then the lack of oxygen.

You won't 'blow up' like a frog with an M80 in his mouth, but you will suffer damage from the pressure differential. Crew escaping from submarines are taught to exhale as they ascend or else their lungs will burst -- not 'explode' with a boom, but yes, actually burst from the excess pressure. The damage can be fatal even if they survive the ascent. I can't believe that someone tossed out of a spaecraft into hard vacuum wouldn't suffer similar damage. There is or was a special 'breathing device' issued to submarine crews to let them exhale & inhale while they ascend. It's just a pLastic thingy which can fit over your mouth & nose so you can breath into it. I suppose something like that would be impossible with space, since the pressure differential is far to great. You'd need a pressurized suit to be able to breath at all.

[ January 28, 2004, 17:45: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]