# Quitting the job while on a space mission?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 21

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**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171/21 "2019-04-30T15:50:14Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> 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.

Regarding Deadliest Catch - I don’t know if it’s happened multiple times, but the time I saw a guy go completely nuts, the captain specifically said the contract states they don’t have to bring him back until the boat is ready to go back, but the guy had threatened to put on a survival suit and swim back to shore, so they decided for his own safety to bring him back.

There have been other times when someone just quit, but didn’t go crazy, and the captain just told him to stay in his bunk and not bother anyone else until they had full tanks and were ready to go to port.

> [@Machine\_Elf](#):
>
> If Crimson Tide and The Hunt for Red October are to be believed, firearms are standard equipment on submarines.

In a previous thread, **robby** confirmed it:

> [@Ask a nuclear submariner.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-nuclear-submariner/423819/27):
>
> Yes, subs carry firearms on board. They are usually locked up in the small arms locker. Subs typically carry .45 caliber pistols, 12-gauge shotguns, and M-16s.
> 
> We are in the military, after all, and you never know when some firearms might come in handy, you know?
> 
> Seriously, the main purpose for the firearms is for the topside watch when tied up at the pier. We want to prevent unauthorized personnel from coming on board, and would like something to enforce this other than just asking them pretty-please.

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