How long could you survive in space without a spacesuit?
August 03, 2023 by Andrew Jones
The vacuum of space is unforgiving, and time is not on your side.
Many of us have dreamed of going into space. Perhaps you've imagined what it would be
like to
visit the International Space Station or even explore new worlds. But traveling in space
brings a whole set of challenges and hostile environments, so it's vital to recreate the
conditions on Earth that have allowed life to evolve and flourish.
Spacesuits allow astronauts to venture outside their spacecraft for short periods, by
providing the air, water, pressure and physical protection needed for a human to
survive.
But what would happen without one of these advanced suits?
Sci-fi movies and shows, including "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "The Expanse," have
portrayed
astronauts suffering — and surviving — short exposures to outer space without a
spacesuit,
while others have depicted a range of grisly deaths.
But here in the real world, how long could a person survive if thrust into the harsh vacuum of outer space? The short answer is, not very long.
"Within a very short time, a matter of 10 to 15 seconds, you will become unconscious
because of a lack of oxygen," according to Stefaan de Mey, a senior strategy officer at
the European Space Agency (ESA) charged with coordinating the strategy area for human
and robotic exploration.
That may seem like a very short time, but it's because you would not want to hold your
breath before being thrust into outer space. In the dark void of space, the oxygen that
sustains us would become a serious problem.
"The oxygen starts expanding and rupturing your lungs, tearing them apart — and that
would cause boiling and bubbling of your blood, which immediately will cause embolism
and have a fatal impact on your body," de Mey said.
Divers face a similar danger when the water pressure decreases as they ascend from the
depths. Before entering space unprotected, you'd need to empty your lungs as much as
possible. The complete lack of pressure also causes other, though less immediately,
deadly issues.
(Image credit: NASA/Jim McDivitt)
Bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, would begin to boil. A human body would also
expand, but the skin would be elastic enough to cope with the pressure change, de Mey
said, adding that horrific movie portrayals of exploding humans are not accurate.
In the best-case scenario, you'd have a few seconds before the oxygen in your
bloodstream would be used up, causing you to pass out. Because you'd be unable to alter
your dire situation, brain death would follow within minutes, unless you were rescued
and brought back to the safety of the pressurized, oxygen-rich environment of a
spacecraft and resuscitated.
In addition to providing vital oxygen and pressurization, spacesuits also shield
astronauts from other dangers and harm.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
"There is a temperature problem and radiation and micrometeoroid threats," de Mey said.
"So spacesuits are designed to provide physical protection of the astronauts in outer
space."
Whether an astronaut is in sunlight or shaded from the sun, they would experience
extreme temperatures, ranging from minus 240 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 150 to 120
degrees Celsius) in low Earth orbit (LEO). These conditions would cause burns or
freezing, though not immediately in the latter case, as body heat is not easily
conducted away in a vacuum.
Spacesuits also protect from various types of radiation. In LEO, there is protection
from some forms of radiation. Prolonged or long-term exposure to electromagnetic
radiation from the sun would cause health issues, including radiation sickness and an
increased risk of cancer. UV light would also burn the skin. The added misfortune of
particles from a solar flare reaching the astronaut at the time they were exposed in
space would exacerbate many of these issues.
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Micrometeoroids and space debris pose another danger. These travel at a rate of a few or
tens of kilometers per second and are a threat to satellites, spacecraft and astronauts
conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs), or spacewalks. Though extremely unlikely to
affect an unprotected astronaut's chances of survival given the astronomically tiny
chances of being hit during a short time in space, spacesuits are designed with multiple
layers to help protect astronauts from any possible micrometeoroids or space debris
whizzing around in orbit.
Being in space without an EVA suit becomes very deadly — very, very quickly. While
someone could survive this grim scenario, they would want to have very little air in
their lungs and get back to the safety of a pressurized spacecraft within seconds — or
hope to be rescued and resuscitated within minutes.