![]() NASA tolerates low-pressure pure-oxygen pressurization in their soft space suits because they have no choice. It would be the outer-space equivalent of those stubborn elderly hospital patients who insist on smoking cigarettes while wearing oxygen tanks. I suppose some space-faring nation could use low-pressure pure-oxygen habitat modules to avoid pre-breathing with low-pressure space suits, but that would be insanely dangerous. This is why high-pressure space suits are called "zero-prebreathe" suits. If you go from a high-pressure habitat module into a high-pressure space suit the bends does not happen. To avoid this the astronaut must do pre-breathing for a couple of hours. The problem is if you go from a high-pressure environment (like a habitat module) into a low-pressure environment (like a low-pressure space suit) you run the risk of the bends. Ever since NASA has avoided using pure oxygen atmosphere wherever possible, which means using high-pressure. At least the ones designed after the Apollo 1 tragedy claimed the lives of three astronauts. They are only used as a precaution, worn inside the habitat module during times when there is danger of it springing a leak (such as during lift-off).įull-(Body) Pressure-suits can be either Low-Pressure (pure oxygen at 32.4 kPa) or High-Pressure (breathing mix at 101.3 kPa, normal Terran atmospheric pressure).Īll NASA spacecraft and space station habitat modules are High-Pressure. Partial (Body) Pressure-suits only pressurize certain parts of the body for a limited time. Most space suits are Full (Body) Pressure-suits: they offer pressurization of the entire body in space for extended periods. The chances of that are slight, but suffocating inside a helmet full of vomit is a nasty way to die. NASA astronaut always put on a transdermal dimenhydrinate anti-nausea patch when suiting up in a space suit, in case of drop sickness. Bergey? Where's the brass brassière?)Ī much more scientifically realistic lady in a space suit (at least I think the person's body is female.). Also people have a problem getting anybody to take it seriously ("Aw, c'mon, gimmie a break! Who the heck is your suit designer, Earle K. Disadvantage is they have to use low pressure so The Bends once again raises its ugly head. Skintight suits have the advantage of being about as encumbering as a wearing leotards, they are quick to put on, and puncturing them just gives you a space- hickey instead of certain death. Like all attempts to have it both ways, it means they have the draw-backs of both and the advantages of neither. Semi-rigid space suits are a cross between soft and hard shell suits. (note the ".made of lead", Robert Dougherty points out that standard plate armor made of steel is actually not very encumbering) Soft space suits are only terribly encumbering. Disadvantage is they are monumentally overwhelmingly hideously encumbering like wearing a suit of medieval plate armor made out of solid lead. ![]() Hard shell space suits advantages are: they can use high pressure atmo so you can't get the bends, you don't need to pre-breathe, and you'd need a freaking handgun to puncture it. Which is a problem if an emergency strikes and you don't have a few hours. Low pressure means you have to do a few hours of pre-breathing or the suit will kill you with The Bends. Oh, and they can only use low pressure because high pressure will make the suit spread-eagle you like somebody strapped to a Saint Andrew's Cross who forget the safeword. Disadvantages include the fact they can be punctured by a pair of kindergarten safety scissors, causing certain death. Soft space suits are only terribly encumbering, like wearing three snow suits at once. If you use air at low pressure the blasted atmo is pure oxy, which is like swimming in a pool of gasoline while idly flicking your Zippo. Spaceship and spacestation cabins have air at full pressure. Listen up, space cadets! Here's the deal:
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