How long could you survive in the vacuum of space?
Imagine you’re in space with no spaceship, no space suit, just you versus the cold empty vacuum of space. How long you could survive? After answering the questions on the site it turns out I can last for 1 minute and 23 seconds. [Link]
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Jun 12, 2008
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20 Comments, add your own...
1. highsky | June 13th, 2008 at 12:05 am
this is nice 1minute and 47 seconds for me :)
2. Mishari | June 13th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Mark, did you get that recording of the radio commercial you asked for the other day?
I got a copy but its not top quality, so i won’t bother sending if you’ve already received the file, if not let me know, and i’ll send what i have.
To which email should i send it?
3. Mark | June 13th, 2008 at 12:23 am
u got mail
4. Marzouq | June 13th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I got 1 min 23 seconds.. wtf? I have no stamina these days! hahaha
5. Abdullah | June 13th, 2008 at 1:05 am
shit, 1 minute and 11 seconds for me ! :P
6. Mark | June 13th, 2008 at 1:07 am
i think mine is inaccurate since i cant hold my breath for more than 15 seconds lol
7. teagirl | June 13th, 2008 at 1:28 am
1:35!! woohoo, I was expecting much less ;)
8. Purgatory | June 13th, 2008 at 1:40 am
1.17, not bad for someone who is in bad shape as me
9. Ayshay | June 13th, 2008 at 2:23 am
1:17 for me, I can’t even last half that long underwater!
10. Zaid | June 13th, 2008 at 2:29 am
1:41 seconds ;)))
11. Fawaz | June 13th, 2008 at 2:42 am
I got 1 min 35 seconds :p woohoo!
12. Mr.pedro | June 13th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Umm i got 1:53 But man i hate watching all of you guys die b4 me :’(
(allah ya36ekom el 3omer) inshalla
13. Abdulla | June 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
1:23 O_o
14. Shoxin | June 13th, 2008 at 9:43 am
1.35 =(
Don’t worry Mr.Pedro, I’m taking down everyone else with me before I run out of breath D=
*cough*
15. Q80 BOY | June 13th, 2008 at 9:53 am
1.29
16. Pure | June 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
1.35 !
17. docxray | June 13th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
The best information comes from the chapter on the effects of Barometric pressure in Bioastronautics Data Book, Second edition, NASA SP-3006.
“Some degree of consciousness will probably be retained for 9 to 11 seconds (see chapter 2 under Hypoxia). In rapid sequence thereafter, paralysis will be followed by generalized convulsions and paralysis once again. During this time, water vapor will form rapidly in the soft tissues and somewhat less rapidly in the venous blood. This evolution of water vapor will cause marked swelling of the body to perhaps twice its normal volume unless it is restrained by a pressure suit. (It has been demonstrated that a properly fitted elastic garment can entirely prevent ebullism at pressures as low as 15 mm Hg absolute. Heart rate may rise initially, but will fall rapidly thereafter. Arterial blood pressure will also fall over a period of 30 to 60 seconds, while venous pressure rises due to distention of the venous system by gas and vapor. Venous pressure will meet or exceed arterial pressure within one minute. There will be virtually no effective circulation of blood. After an initial rush of gas from the lungs during decompression, gas and water vapor will continue to flow outward through the airways. This continual evaporation of water will cool the mouth and nose to near-freezing temperatures; the remainder of the body will also become cooled, but more slowly.
“It is very unlikely that a human suddenly exposed to a vacuum would have more than 5 to 10 seconds to help himself. If immediate help is at hand, although one’s appearance and condition will be grave, it is reasonable to assume that recompression to a tolerable pressure (200 mm Hg, 3.8 psia) within 60 to 90 seconds could result in survival, and possibly in rather rapid recovery.”
Note that this discussion covers the effect of vacuum exposure only. The decompression event itself can have disasterous effects if the person being decompressed makes the mistake of trying to hold his or her breath. This will result in rupturing of the lungs, with almost certainly fatal results. There is a good reason that it is called “explosive” decompression.
18. Shoxin | June 13th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
That doesn’t sound pleasant <_<
19. Sunny | June 13th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Funny . . . 1:23 exact
20. N. | June 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
That is of course, if you survive the zero degrees (-273 Celsius) space atmosphere long enough.
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