# Stranded in space

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-in-space/363772>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 9, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-in-space/363772 "2006-07-09T18:53:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-in-space/363772/1 "2006-07-09T18:53:06Z")

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I suppose that when astronauts go for space walks, they have a tether or booster packs or some other means of returning safely to the space station/shuttle. But are there any rescue plans in place for the unlikely event that a tether is severed, or a booster pack fails, and the astronaut is unable to return to the airlock himself? Or would such a situation result in certain death for the astronaut in question?

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-in-space/363772/2 "2006-07-10T14:48:33Z")

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This might help:

> **[If the shuttle is stranded in orbit...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=378173)**
>
> …is the crew doomed? It would take months to ready another shuttle, right? Could Russia possibly send up a rescue? Soyuz can only hold 3 people.