8 things that will happen to the human body in space

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Contrary to what we are shown in the movies, there is a chance of survival.

In Hollywood films, the fate of characters dying in space is spectacular and dramatic. An astronaut, who managed to be there without a spacesuit, turns into an ice statue, or bursts like a balloon, or both at once - for which the screenwriter's imagination is enough.

But reality, as is often the case, is a little more banal and boring. This is what really happens to some unlucky fellow in the abyss of the universe.

1. Severe edema

When we are in the Earth's atmosphere, it presses on us with an average force of 100 kilopascals - this is about 1 kg per 1 cm². But since the body consists of incompressible fluids and has its own internal pressure, the forces are balanced, and we do not notice the load.

But in the vacuum of space, the atmosphere is simply absent, so that internal pressure will begin to play against the astronaut. After about 10 seconds in vacuum 1.

2.

3. The skin and muscles will swell and swell because the fluid in them begins to expand.

It is painful because the edema will be accompanied by multiple ruptures of capillaries and microhematomas. And the skin will turn blue.

What will definitely not happen

Contrary to popular belief, in a vacuum, a person will not explode and fly apart. Leather is tough and resilient enough to withstand one atmosphere of pressure.

The astronaut will swell monstrously, experience severe pain, and it will be difficult for him to move. But he cannot burst.

In 1960, during a test stratospheric parachute jump, US Air Force Captain Joseph Kittinger depressurized his right glove. His hand was swollen and completely useless. But the parachutist landed successfully, and while he was descending, the limb gradually returned to normal.

2. Sunburn

When we are on the surface of our home planet, the ozone layer protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. But in space, such protection is not expected, so people will become much faster to sunbathe without a spacesuit.

It won't be the same as lying on the beach.

A person who finds himself in outer space without special equipment will receive 1.

2.

3. Serious sunburn on exposed skin. This will also be quite painful. Although ordinary clothing is also well protected from ultraviolet radiation, a spacesuit is not necessary here. And if the astronaut is in the shadow of the planet, the Sun will not harm him at all.

What will definitely not happen

Flashing, burning or charring, like in the movie "Hell", a person will not be even in direct sunlight. The skin will become very reddened and blistered. After some time, death from overheating could occur, but before that, the astronaut will have time to simply suffocate.

3. Blindness

Another danger that threatens in outer space is the dazzling effects of bright sunlight.

In science fiction films, such as the blockbuster "Gravity," astronauts in spacesuits throw meaningful glances at each other through the darkness of space - this is done so that we recognize the actors. But if you look at a real helmet, you will see a yellow polarizing filter on it, which protects the eyes from ultraviolet radiation. Because of him, the face in the helmet is not visible at all.

If you get out into space without eye protection, damage to the retina by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun will be more than likely. And this will lead to incurable blindness.

What will definitely not happen

Unlike what we saw in the movie "Total Recall," in reality, eyes will not come out of orbits in space. They sit firmly enough to withstand the opposition of vacuum and intracranial pressure. In 1965, this was tested on dogs during a pressure chamber test at Brooks Air Force Base in Texas.

The poor fellows, as noted in the reports of scientists, were very swollen, but their eyes and other organs remained in place. And if the effect of the vacuum was short-lived (up to 90 seconds), 10-15 minutes after being removed from the chamber, the animals came to their senses.

4. Frostbite of eyes, mouth and nose

In general, in space, it is easier to die from overheating than to freeze. The fact is that vacuum does not transfer heat well and is an excellent thermal insulator. Therefore, astronauts put on a special water-cooled suit under the spacesuit before going into outer space.

However, parts of the body covered with liquid in a vacuum, on the contrary, become cold very, very quickly.

Water evaporates and carries heat with it. So open mucous membranes - eyes, mouth, and nostrils - will cool quickly and may even be covered with frost. This will damage the cornea and, again, blindness if you don't close your eyes in time.

What will definitely not happen

Cooling occurs only on surfaces covered with moisture. Due to the fact that convection in open space is difficult, a person will not be able to turn into a fragile ice statue, as shown in science fiction films.

The astronaut will not be cold for long, but it will pass as soon as the sweat from the skin evaporates. Further, the body will only heat up under sunlight. If the depressurization of the ship occurs very far from the Sun, then the body of the victims will really cool down. But it will take hours - no instant icing.

5. Injury to internal organs

When going into outer space without a spacesuit, you should not take air into your chest, although this action seems quite natural.

The fact is that due to a sharp drop in pressure, the victim of depressurization will inevitably experience barotrauma of varying severity. Eardrums and sinuses are more likely to be damaged. Also, if you don't exhale before decompression, your lungs can rupture.

Gas in the intestines and stomach will also cause internal trauma with spontaneous bowel movements, vomiting, and urination - this has also been tested in dogs.

In general, when the spacecraft is depressurized, you should exhale and clear the intestines as quickly as possible.

This will reduce the likelihood of internal injury.

What will definitely not happen

Unlike the delicate and delicate internal organs, the limbs, at least, are not in danger. They will remain with a person, no matter what science fiction writers come up with. For example, in the story by Ray Bradbury "Kaleidoscope", who was out of the rocket, the slut was deprived first of his arm and then his legs by a meteor shower flying by.

However, in reality, due to the fact that the meteorites in the stream are separated by a huge distance, it is extremely unlikely to bump into even one of them, and even two at once - and at all like winning the lottery. Although hardly anyone needs such a win.

6. Foaming saliva

Due to the absence of external pressure, liquids in a vacuum begin to boil and evaporate, although at the same temperatures on the Earth's surface they behave normally. Look at the video above how water works: it comes in bubbles, although the jar was not heated.

The already mentioned test parachutist Joseph Kittinger said that during the depressurization in the stratosphere - before losing consciousness - he managed to feel saliva boil on his tongue. These were not dangerous, but very unpleasant sensations.

What is unlikely to happen

Unlike saliva, at least the blood of a person trapped in a vacuum will not foam like it is portrayed in shocking pop science videos.

The elastic walls of blood vessels are able to maintain a sufficiently high pressure so that the boiling point of blood (about 46 ° C), even in outer space, is higher than the body temperature - 37 ° C.

However, although the blood does not boil, individual small bubbles of gas will still form in it. Ebullism is to blame - an effect similar to that experienced by scuba divers who emerge from a great depth. And if one such vesicle gets into the brain, it will cause a stroke, and in the heart - myocardial ischemia.

7. Irradiation

Vacuum and heat from sunlight aren't the only factors trying to kill you in space. Another danger is radiation.

It is generously shared with the surrounding world by the Sun, as well as other stars, galactic nuclei, quasars and black holes. They regularly send "streams of good" towards our long-suffering planet.

This is called the general term "cosmic rays".

On the surface of the Earth, its abodes are protected by the powerful magnetic field of the planet. In space, this is not expected. Mars, for example, lacks such a field, so building a colony there will be another challenge.

An unprotected astronaut runs the risk of severe radiation exposure by being bombarded with subatomic particles. So even if the poor man who fell into open space is promptly dragged aboard the ship, pumped out and returned to Earth, there is a risk that he will soon die from radiation poisoning, or from cancer a little later.

Whatall the samemay happen

It is possible that the radiation will not cause significant harm to the astronaut. Of course, naked, he will receive a larger dose than in a spacesuit, because it traps alpha and beta particles. However, gamma radiation will not stop any protective suit, if it is not lead.

If during a forced walk through the near-earth space, solar flares did not occur, the victim will not gain a lethal dose of radiation.

Thus, many members of the Apollo expeditions have lived for quite a long time. On average, they received the same amount of radiation during a 12-day flight as with a chest x-ray. So radiation is not the main thing to worry about, hanging out in space without a spacesuit.

8. Hypoxia

After an astronaut without a spacesuit is out of the ship, for about 10 seconds he will remain conscious, sober, and (possibly) presence of mind. But after that, he will begin to suffer from hypoxia, that is, oxygen starvation. His eyes will darken, he will experience seizures, then paralysis, and pass out.

In the Earth's atmosphere, people are able not to breathe for about 1-2 minutes. Record-breaker-diver Alex Vendrell somehow managed to hold out for 24 minutes.

However, in a vacuum for more than 9-11 seconds, it will not be possible to maintain consciousness. The reason is not a lack of air, but a lack of external pressure. Because of this, oxygen from the blood is actually 1.

2. begins to be sucked out through the alveoli back into the lungs. It won't matter how much you can hold your breath.

After about one and a half minutes, the astronaut's brain will die of hypoxia. Since the bacteria living in the intestines will also die soon, the body will not decompose. Depending on how close the heat source, that is, the sun, the remains will either mummify or gradually freeze.

If the crash happened outside the gravity well of the Earth or another planet, the astronaut will drift in space for millions of years.

Perhaps it will even be found and placed in a museum by an advanced alien civilization.

What can happen

It is enough to have time to return the victim from the vacuum earlier than 90 seconds, and it can be pumped out. This was checked by 1.

2. on dogs and monkeys by NASA specialists. Normalization of pressure, ventilation of the lungs with oxygen and shock doses of pentoxifylline (a drug that improves the effectiveness of red blood cells) will put the poor man on his feet.