With the "memorial" shuttle flight coming up to release the ashes of certain famous space people, the question arose of releasing an entire dead body into space. Would it decompose? Would it end up in orbit around something or just float around? I know, it's gross, but I was just wondering.
2006-07-28 07:07:05 · 13 answers · asked by pennymaelane 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A body that is exposed to space would be subject to all sorts of forces. Decomposition is something that happens even without oxygen. On the inside your body is filled with bacteria that would begin to decompose your body turning it to basic chemicals on the inside. On the outside a body will be subject to extreme heat, cold and radiation. Cooking, defrosting, freezing, and radiation. Think of it as a Steak that has cooked to fast on the outside, but with a mushy carbon center. eventually this center will explode and you would just be steak...
2006-07-28 07:25:46 · answer #1 · answered by Dennis W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, a body would not decompose in space. Decomposition is caused by all the bacterial microbes that exist because of our atmosphere here on earth. The body would freeze solid and if it was released from the space shuttle it would probably assume the same orbit as the ship. Over time earths gravitational pull would win and the body would come crashing towards earth. Don't worry about being hit by a body though, it would burn up to dust re-entering the atmosphere and we would see it as a falling star. Kind of cool if you think about it, too have tons of people making a wish on you as you make your very last mark on the world.
2006-07-28 14:20:24 · answer #2 · answered by Barry M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually it will not decompose because in space the is no air and if there is no air then no aerobic bacteria who does decomposation. It may just float around or after many years it will trap in some planet gravity or any other body in space which have gravity and will burn in atmosphere of that planet.
2006-07-28 15:56:19 · answer #3 · answered by sakshamvarshney 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone who knows more about this stuff than I do would have to answer that for sure but I say no. I believe decomposition is a process brought on by various organisms. That is how they tell how long a person has been dead, by what organisms are currently doing their thing.
If the little creatures that eat your face after you die aren't around, you won't decompose.
2006-07-28 14:13:25 · answer #4 · answered by Big Ed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it would orbit the earth, or float around until it encountered another gravitational field. A body would freeze in space as it's cold, plus there's no bacteria or atmosphere to cause decomposition
2006-07-28 14:13:56 · answer #5 · answered by mrmoo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no bacteria or other organisms to break down organic matter, however if the material became sufficiently heated as it got too close to the sun I would imagine it would evaporate.
2006-07-28 14:11:52 · answer #6 · answered by Black Sabbath 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, things decompose because microscopic organisms, an animal, or a fungus eats them in space there is no life, so no decomposing
2006-07-28 14:11:49 · answer #7 · answered by CLBH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freeze dried,until some space debris struck you and you poof to a fine powdered dust.Of stars we are born ,to stars we return.
2006-07-29 00:45:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not that fast maybe since there's no oxygen in space and its freezing. No oxygen means no virus or germ can reporduce since they need oxygen to flourish.
2006-07-28 14:11:10 · answer #9 · answered by Equinox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would most likely be freeze dried, then slowly eroded away by dust and debris in space.
2006-07-28 14:10:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋