# Quitting the job while on a space mission? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2019, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171 "2019-04-28T11:39:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/1 "2019-04-28T11:39:44Z")
What would happen if someone is on space mission for months and decides to quit their job? Would they have to be sent back right away? Or just wait for the next departure? They must have rules for this situation. You cannot force someone to work a job so they could just stay up and do nothing. On the show deadliest catch a guy quit and the boat had to go back to port to drop him off. But that is much easier than being in space. ---
**Author:** ![ohiomstr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/82dd89/32.png) [@ohiomstr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohiomstr2)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/2 "2019-04-28T12:26:38Z")
I suspect it would be something similar to the situation described in an old SF novel THE MERCHANTS OF VENUS. Sure, you can quit, but you can’t stay in the habitat, use the equipment, etc, and there is no available transport. So where do you go? Seems unlikely that a contemporary astronaut with a propensity to walk out on the job, so to speak, would be chosen for a mission in the first place. Such a refusal would be akin to mutiny but I don’t know what rules, if any, NASA or similar agencies have to define mutiny. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/3 "2019-04-28T12:38:09Z")
don’t think it’s mutiny if you simply don’t want to do anything or make any attempt to take over or harm someone ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/4 "2019-04-28T12:42:04Z")
The Skylab astronauts did, at one point, go on strike. No doubt it drove the folks back at NASA nuts, but they did get the concessions they asked for and went back to work. Fact is, there is a limit to what Earth-bound authorities can do to impose their will on the people in space. The biggest issue for a quitter on, say, the ISS would not be the folks on the ground - it would be the other people aboard who are still working. Peer pressure when you’re locked for a long time in a tin can with other people and there is no way for any of you to step outside… that could become a nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/5 "2019-04-28T12:46:28Z")
what did the skylab people ask for? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/6 "2019-04-28T13:43:13Z")
Some of them, at least, are military, and pretty sure there are rules about quitting the military. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/7 "2019-04-28T13:46:33Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > what did the skylab people ask for? > **[Skylab 4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab_controversy)** > > Skylab 4 (also SL-4 and SLM-3) was the third crewed Skylab mission and placed the third and final crew aboard the first American space station. > The mission began on November 16, 1973, with the launch of Gerald P. Carr, Edward Gibson, and William R. Pogue in an Apollo command and service module on a Saturn IB rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and lasted 84 days, one hour and 16 minutes. A total of 6,051 astronaut-utilization hours were tallied by the Skylab 4 astronauts performing ... They were falling behind on work and also their day was too structured my mission control. They cut communications for a bit and 2 out of 3 just stared out the window. So it was more of a moment of peace they wanted, after which mission control and them worked out a new easier schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/8 "2019-04-28T14:05:08Z")
If I recall, one outcome of the Skylab situation was that on future missions, particularly longterm missions, not only do work schedules take into account better-understood human factors, crew members are scheduled to have some amount of personal time each day, during which they can do whatever the hell they want - look out the window, talk to/e-mail people back on Earth, [make a music video cover of a well known David Bowie song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo), whatever. Apparently, hyper-intelligent, healthy, incredibly driven people _also_ need some R&R just like us regular shlubs. Who knew? This probably is a factor in a _lack_ of similar work stoppages on subsequent space missions. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/9 "2019-04-29T18:59:26Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > don’t think it’s mutiny if you simply don’t want to do anything or make any attempt to take over or harm someone Ummm… If you consider a spacecraft a vessel, with the “captain” in charge - you are AFAIK obliged to obey orders or else it’s the very definition of mutiny. Until we get spaceliners, with paying passengers, I imagine anyone on a space vessel so far is considered crew. Even on airliners today, there’s a criminal charge for passengers interfering with the operational activities of the crew. Not sure what the rules are for cruise ships, but depending on the circumstances I suspect the crew have every right to confine a passenger to cabin or lock him up (“lock her up”?) depending on what sort of disruptions the perp may be causing. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/10 "2019-04-29T21:34:04Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Ummm… If you consider a spacecraft a vessel, with the “captain” in charge - you are AFAIK obliged to obey orders or else it’s the very definition of mutiny. That is not the very definition of mutiny- at least not in the US. I doubt that it is in any other country either. Mutiny is a much more serious charge than a general failure to obey orders (Article 92). > **[10 U.S. Code § 894 - Art. 94. Mutiny or sedition](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/894)** ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/11 "2019-04-30T00:34:36Z")
“Toilets are for employees only” ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/12 "2019-04-30T00:56:20Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > “Toilets are for employees only” In a weightless environment where fluids will go everywhere, I don’t think this is the tact you want to take. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/13 "2019-04-30T01:37:30Z")
In the ISS each crewmember has[their own bedroom](http://chasblogspot.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-bedrooms-and-2nd-bathroom-for-iss.html), so they can basically confine (i.e., lock) a crewmember in there. I suppose if someone went nuts on a Soyuz, the other two would just hold him down and hope the automatic controls worked. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/14 "2019-04-30T02:23:15Z")
If someone loses their shit in space, or on a deep-sea fishing vessel, or in an Antarctic research base, they can cause a _lot_ of problems. There must be some relevant fishermen’s stories ? Hanging at the yard-arm doesn’t sound very space-age. If [Jack London](http://www.online-literature.com/london/68/) is to be believed, on a land expedition you can just abandon them. In space or at sea you would have to figure out how to confine them to quarters or the lazarette or someplace. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/15 "2019-04-30T04:00:33Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If I recall, one outcome of the Skylab situation was that on future missions, particularly longterm missions, not only do work schedules take into account better-understood human factors, crew members are scheduled to have some amount of personal time each day, during which they can do whatever the hell they want - look out the window, talk to/e-mail people back on Earth, [make a music video cover of a well known David Bowie song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo), whatever. Apparently, hyper-intelligent, healthy, incredibly driven people _also_ need some R&R just like us regular shlubs. Who knew? > > This probably is a factor in a _lack_ of similar work stoppages on subsequent space missions. Very cool video. And Commander Hadfield is quite talented. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/16 "2019-04-30T12:53:50Z")
_Ground control to Major Tom Put down your picket sign and get your helmet on_ ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/17 "2019-04-30T13:21:18Z")
Thus far, our manned missions to other places have entailed just a few days. Sending a much bigger crew on a mission that may entail a few years is fraught with a plethora of dangers. The “what ifs” literally boggle the mind. One of those dangers is the possible mental destabilization of one or more crew members. There would have to be protocols in place ranging from simply confining someone to quarters all the way to imprisoning them or even sedating them for a prolonged period of time if they become irrationally violent. The crew chosen would have to have skills that overlap other crew members’ jobs in case one or more members become incapacitated or dead. Even with all the planning in (and out of this) world, the final and necessary ingredient to a successful mission will be good old fashioned luck. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/18 "2019-04-30T14:19:33Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Thus far, our manned missions to other places have entailed just a few days. Sending a much bigger crew on a mission that may entail a few years is fraught with a plethora of dangers. The “what ifs” literally boggle the mind. That is one of the reasons for extended missions in Earth orbit - find out what happens to people long term in such an environment, but close enough that it’s possible to bring them back if things start to go south. > [@](#): > > One of those dangers is the possible mental destabilization of one or more crew members. There would have to be protocols in place ranging from simply confining someone to quarters all the way to imprisoning them or even sedating them for a prolonged period of time if they become irrationally violent. I could even see a scenario where a crew member becomes so dangerous that the others kill the person as a survival measure for the rest of them. Clearly, a situation we want to avoid but I’m sure NASA has considered the possibility. Didn’t U-boat commanders have a pistol for just such a circumstance? I thought I heard something once to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/19 "2019-04-30T14:34:28Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Didn’t U-boat commanders have a pistol for just such a circumstance? I thought I heard something once to that effect. If Crimson Tide and The Hunt for Red October are to be believed, firearms are standard equipment on submarines. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/20 "2019-04-30T15:22:06Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > If Crimson Tide and The Hunt for Red October are to be believed, firearms are standard equipment on submarines. “Soyuz” capsules used to carry those [awesome triple-barreled rifle/shotgun/machetes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TP-82) as required standard equipment but obviously not for use against crew members! (The idea was that those old 9mm Makarov pistols wouldn’t necessarily work so well against bears.) I couldn’t say what, if anything, is on board (some) current missions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171.md?page=2)