ALL SCI-FI

bulldogtrekker

For all of our sci-fi writers out there . . .

Death by vacuum has become a hallmark of modern space cinema. 2001, Total Recall, Outland, Armageddon, every one of the Aliens series — no movie set outside Earth's atmosphere is complete without somebody getting sucked out of an airlock, tearing their suit, or otherwise being subjected to the vacuous extremes of space.

However, every film seems to find new and inventive ways for people to expire. Some go by explosive decompression — Quaid had his eyes nearly burst in Total Recall, and the construction worker from Outland had his head explode outright. Still others simply flash freeze into meat Popsicles (a la Event Horizon). So which is it?

Well, a bit of both, actually.

Thankfully, the effects depicted in films are exaggerated in both magnitude and speed. You do not, in fact, instantly freeze or explode — heat transfers too slowly for that. Nor does your blood immediately boil, thanks to the resilience of your cutaneous system. You do not immediately fry to a crisp by unadulterated solar radiation, though you will get one hell of a sunburn. No, no, you have good ten to fifteen seconds with which to freak out before you begin to black out — and a solid two minutes or so before you fully expire . . .

Gizmodo Link:
http://gizmodo.com/5924522/what-really-happens-when-you-get-sucked-out-of-an-airlock
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Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:06 am Post subject:

Based on all I read above, it sounds like the scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey did it exactly right. Dave Bowman arranged his dramatic entrance into the ship without a helmet perfectly.

He increased the air pressure in the pod so that when he opened the hatch the air would explode into the airlock and push him out while filling the airlock briefly with air. He was pushed into the airlock by this air, and then he quickly closed the ship's hatch and caused the airlock to be flooded with air from the ship.

To me, this is the best scene in the entire movie. A man thinks his way out of a dangerous situation. I love it.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:38 am Post subject:

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I think I'll revive this discussion with a little "mouth-to-mouth" resuscitation.

You know, I'll talk about it a little, then you talk a little, then I'll talk . . . well, you get the idea. Very Happy

How many movies can we name (and post pictures from) that included scenes of rapid decompression. I'll start us off with this classic scene. I'll let the next guy who posts name this movie.

Okay, who's next? Cool

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Krel · Guest

I never thought that Ross Martin's character died of rapid decompression. I thought that he died from the space equivalent of a gunshot wound from the meteor.

David.

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1876

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:13 pm Post subject:

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1876

In the scene(s) that showed him floating lifelessly at the end of his tether, wasn't the faceplate covered in blood? If so (I'm too lazy to actually go check it out at the moment) that would seem to indicate decompression as the intended cause of death. Anybody remember where he was hit?

I'll check the movie later today after my beauty sleep (which isn't working).
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WayneO
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Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:18 am Post subject:

Bud, your picture of Bowman entering the Discovery's airlock is upside-down. Almost everyone posts it that way because of our natural inclinations due to our gravitic bias.
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 12:51 pm Post subject:

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1876

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 4:26 pm Post subject:

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1876

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:02 pm Post subject:

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What would be the most likely cause of blood in the helmet?

Would it be massive internal damage from the meteoroid, causing blood to be sucked up his windpipe and then out of his nose and mouth when the air in the suit rushed out?

Or would it be the rupturing of the tissue in his head, which would also be pulled out of this nose and mouth by the vacuum in his suit?
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1876

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:34 pm Post subject:

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True, but the article that started this thread straightened us out about that. I was wondering which situation might have actually caused blood to spout out and plaster the visor.

Either of the ways I mentioned seem reasonable, and they aren't mutually exclusive either.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)