| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"CyberDroog" |
| Date: |
02 Mar 2006 03:18:44 AM |
| Object: |
Physics Theory 301: Naked Lunar Dust Angels |
They are currently working on EVA suits that could be quite similar to skin
diving suits. No more bulky suit. These would be form fitting and skin
tight. They have to be, since the tightness would supply the pressure the
human body needs to avoid near-instant asphyxiation. All they really need
is a way to regulate temperature and protect the body from radiation, and
these suits would be a godsend. Freedom of movement and all that.
Anyway, that got me interested in trying to work out exactly how long a
human being could survive in space without the suit. It's only a matter of
seconds apparently, and ironically the more aerobically fit a person is,
the faster they would fall unconscious. But what if you lost the suit, yet
still had the helmet? Assuming the helmet was pressurized, of course.
The important reason I need to know is that it will be vitally important
should I ever find myself stranded, with no hope of rescue, on the lunar
surface.
Let's face it, if there is no hope of rescue within the time limits of your
remaining oxygen supply, you have only two choices.
1: Just sit there in your downed craft and wait for the oxygen to run out.
2: Say to hell with it, go EVA, and run around outside until you drop.
I think after taking some time to make peace with the world, and ummm,
performing the last personal favor I'll ever experience, I would go for
option 2.
But I wouldn't just run around until I drop. I want to gauge the time
precisely so that when I am nearly out of air I can, as quickly as
possible, remove every last bit of the suit - other than the helmet which
would keep me alive for another minute or so - drop flat on my back and
make a lunar dust angel.
And that is the way they will find me. Naked and spread-eagle in the midst
of a lunar dust angel.
Hopefully my wishes will be respected and I'll be left there in perpetuity.
That is important since if all life on earth were to be wiped out, the
equipment we have left on the lunar surface would be the only evidence some
alien race would have to know we existed. But that only serves to tell
them something about our technology. It is equally important to also tell
them a little something about us as people - fellow sentient beings. I
think the aliens would get a kick out of it and would hold the memory of
human life one earth in high honor.
--
No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up.
- Lilly Tomlin
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| User: "Whiskers" |
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| Title: Re: Physics Theory 301: Naked Lunar Dust Angels |
04 Mar 2006 07:24:30 AM |
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On 2006-03-02, CyberDroog <CyberDroog@ClockworkOrange.com> wrote:
snip
But I wouldn't just run around until I drop. I want to gauge the time
precisely so that when I am nearly out of air I can, as quickly as
possible, remove every last bit of the suit - other than the helmet which
would keep me alive for another minute or so - drop flat on my back and
make a lunar dust angel.
And that is the way they will find me. Naked and spread-eagle in the midst
of a lunar dust angel.
snip
I think you may find that if your torso is put under the stress of ~1
atmosphere of pressure inside, and vacuum outside, you won't have time to
do anything, and your remains will not be at all elegant.
--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~
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| User: "CyberDroog" |
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| Title: Re: Physics Theory 301: Naked Lunar Dust Angels |
04 Mar 2006 06:17:40 PM |
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On Sat, 4 Mar 2006 13:24:30 +0000, Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com>
wrote:
On 2006-03-02, CyberDroog <CyberDroog@ClockworkOrange.com> wrote:
snip
But I wouldn't just run around until I drop. I want to gauge the time
precisely so that when I am nearly out of air I can, as quickly as
possible, remove every last bit of the suit - other than the helmet which
would keep me alive for another minute or so - drop flat on my back and
make a lunar dust angel.
And that is the way they will find me. Naked and spread-eagle in the midst
of a lunar dust angel.
snip
I think you may find that if your torso is put under the stress of ~1
atmosphere of pressure inside, and vacuum outside, you won't have time to
do anything, and your remains will not be at all elegant.
The only problem with the remains will be the freeze-drying. Not very
attractive, but at least you won't explode the way Hollywood likes to
believe.
The trick will be to exhale all your remaining air at the very last second
before the pressure is removed to avoid the internally devastating effects
of Boyle's Law. The problem is that asphyxiation occurs only a matter of
seconds after that.
There has to be some way of keeping the brain supplied with oxygen just
long enough to get naked on the moon.
--
Life... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips
in it, and some folks have half a one for breakfast.
- Douglas Adams
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