[X] My Assistant

[RNeuhaus]

Hmm. So if your blood is above the boiling point, that means your lungs can't get any oxygen into your bloodstream?

As I understand is, since the Mars has very low atmosphere presure, about 6-7 milibars comparing to around 1000 milibats at the see level (depending to the sessons) and the blood will evaporate and hence, the lung won't get any oxygen. I am not accounting the influence of low temperature to hold a little further the boiling point.

Rodolfo

[tty]

Have a look at this:

http://www.dsls.usra.edu/meetings/bio2001/pdf/140p.pdf

That Buck Rogers suit might be possible after all....

tty

[Bob Shaw]

Yes - very interesting, it's good to get some real figures on the physiology front rather than the physics!

The test subject does, however, look rather too pleased with himself for my liking - like a big boy who has *finally* been given the birthday present he should have had when he was eight!

Yup, that's me: jealous!

Bob Shaw

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[deglr6328]

One can scarcely imagine the unspeakably ghastly horrors which await the tailoring of these suits to the current American populace. *shudder*

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

As I understand is, since the Mars has very low atmosphere presure, about 6-7 milibars comparing to around 1000 milibats at the see level (depending to the sessons) and the blood will evaporate and hence, the lung won't get any oxygen. I am not accounting the influence of low temperature to hold a little further the boiling point.

Rodolfo

Even in a pure vacuum, the blood won't boil -- the body's tissues (even on exposed mucous membranes) serve as a pretty good pressure seal -- but the oxygen will diffuse out of it VERY fast into the vacuum, which is why an oxygen mask alone isn't enough to allow survival in such an environment. But Mars' air pressure -- tiny though it is -- is very close to the level at which liquid water CAN survive; Derek Sears' tests at the U. of Arkansas suggest an evaporation rate as slow as 1 mm/hour! So, presumably, you could survive distinctly longer on Mars than in a pure vacuum -- but we're still talking about oxygen diffusing out of the blood into that thin air very fast. I can't see any human being able to survive in such an environment (even unconscious) more than a few minutes.

[Spacely]

Even in a pure vacuum, the blood won't boil -- the body's tissues (even on exposed mucous membranes) serve as a pretty good pressure seal -- but the oxygen will diffuse out of it VERY fast into the vacuum, which is why an oxygen mask alone isn't enough to allow survival in such an environment. But Mars' air pressure -- tiny though it is -- is very close to the level at which liquid water CAN survive; Derek Sears' tests at the U. of Arkansas suggest an evaporation rate as slow as 1 mm/hour! So, presumably, you could survive distinctly longer on Mars than in a pure vacuum -- but we're still talking about oxygen diffusing out of the blood into that thin air very fast. I can't see any human being able to survive in such an environment (even unconscious) more than a few minutes.

Fascinating. Everyone talks about the likes of Titan being a strange world, but imagine how strange it would be to walk on Mars during noon on summer day, see a puddle of liquid water, measure temperatures of 50F, and yet, still know that if you take off your suit, you're dead in minutes. Hell, as is, seeing rover pics of a dry desert Mars doesn't make it seem all that inhospitable! It's the deadliest cozy spot in the solr system.

[edstrick]

The triple point of water where ice, liquid and vapor are in equilibrium, is at 6.3 or 6.7 millibars pressure. That's ICE-WATER. So a beaker full of ice water won't boil in the lowlands but will boil on the Tharsis plateau. However, blood is normally quite a bit above freezing.... nominally 98.6 F. So a bucket-of-blood (Is this another cheapo mars skiffy movie?) will boil anywhere on Mars unless it's had time to chill down.

What is the "ketchup-count" on this thread, anyway?

[lyford]

That Buck Rogers suit might be possible after all....

Despite all the worry about Moon dust ruining the outside of suits and needing an airlock to prevent dust entering the capsule, the mind reels at the prospect of the dangers presented by the INSIDE of these skin tight pressure suits after a hard day's work on Mars. Phew!

Though there are some advantages to a skin tight pressure suit, as this other research program from the 1960's demonstrated:

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[Bob Shaw]

With a little effort, and the unknowing assistance of Michelin, I have simulated the appearance of a circumferentially-challenged space traveller in a skinsuit.

Be warned: Before you Luke, a pretty sight it is not, oh no.

Bob Shaw

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