How strong is the suction in space if your spaceship has a hole in it?

[cjepson]

@CannyDan

A Heinlein story – I think it was called “Gentlemen, Be Seated” but I can’t easily look it up on this device – explores this scenario.

That’s what I was coming in to mention. It was one situation in which an abundant supply of adipose tissue was a definite plus.

[Hail_Ants]

@OldOlds

Agreed. Sorry Hail Ants, but I have to throw you a Yellow Pedantic Card on this one. I am well aware of what you’re saying, but “suction” is perfectly fine in day to day speech.

I had actually typed the word ‘pedantic’ in my above post, but changed it cause I thought it made me sound pretentious (no offense :D).

And no thread about suction vs pressure would be complete without mentioning this column of Cecil’s…

[Apollon]

Not only is it perfectly acceptable to use the terms “suction” and “cold”, but “centrifugal force” and “darkness” are real things, too, for everyone who isn’t a physics nazi.

[msmith537]

@Xema

Freeze to death in a matter of seconds? Why?

I don’t think you would. The vacuum of space is actually a pretty good insulator (that’s why they make thermoses out of vacuum) and your body produces heat. In fact, getting rid of excess heat is a problem with space ships.

Hollywood tends to portray the vacuum of space as if you would either a) explode, b) instantly freeze solid and shatter or c) both as soon as you were exposed to it. I don’t think either is true.

@Melbourne

There is a report, which I’m too lazy to google, of an Astronaut with a small suit puncture. According to the report, he fealt a small amout of pain/discomfort, which he attributed to rubbing/pinching. His ?? hand ?? skin was sucked/pressed into the hole, which stopped any significant leaking, and the problem was identified after he came back inside.

I recall a similar incident with a super-high altitude parachute jump from space. The guys glove leaked and exposed his hand to space. Other than some minor frostbite and a swollen hand, I think he was fine.

@YogSosoth

Also, how does the pressure in space on the international space station hole compare to a hole on a submarine that’s underwater? Could you stop a leak on a sub with your finger?

Fry: “How many atmospheres can this ship withstand?!”
Dr. Farnsworth: “Well it’s a spaceship, so I’d say between zero and one.”
-Futurama
The answer is no. Water is much heavier that air and it’s harder to plug a leak “in” than a leak “out”. Water pressure increases roughly 4.4 psi every ten feet of depth so it adds up quickly.

[crowmanyclouds]

@msmith537

{…} I recall a similar incident with a super-high altitude parachute jump from space. The guys glove leaked and exposed his hand to space. Other than some minor frostbite and a swollen hand, I think he was fine. {…}

The dude with the big [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]balls[/DEL][/COLOR] hand was Colonel (then Captain) Joseph Kittinger.

CMC fnord!