A Human in Space?

Question

If a human was floating in outer space, without a space suit or anything, would he explode due to the extremely low pressure?

Answer 1

:-) yup with the force of a 16,000 pound bomb.

The atmosphere applies 14 pounds per square inch on us, so in order for our bodies to exist they must exert the same amount of pressure outwards. If you multiply 14 pounds time the average amount of skin an average man has (1,150 square inches) you get 16,000 pounds. If you remove the atmospheric pressure and leave the internal one it goes BOOM!

[edited to add]

Researching the subject it appears that the correct answer is not what I originally stated. That response was a quote from a science teacher quite some time ago, since then the scientific community has changed their view on the consequences of human exposure to vacuum.

========
Some background info concerning rapid decompression and short time human exposure to vacuum.
from http://www.sff.net/people/Geoffrey.Landis/ebullism.html
========

II) PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF EBULLISM

What does happen to a human exposed to vacuum? Can we successfully plan for a rapid decompression at 1,000,000 feet?

Hypobaria (low pressure) has life-threatening effects primarily on 3 systems: the Lungs, the Heart and the Brain. We examine each of these in turn.

Pulmonary Damage to the lungs in rapid or explosive decompression occurs primarily due to pulmonary overpressure, the tremendous pressure differential inside versus outside the lungs. 80 mm Hg is enough to cause pulmonary tears and alveolar rupture (8); pulmonary hemorrhaging, ranging from petechiae to free blood (depending on the magnitude and rate of decompression) is also seen (9). Emphysematous changes are seen especially in the upper lungs, while atelectasis and edema predominate in the lower lungs (10). When we get to the patient, the lungs will be a bloody, ruptured mess.

Cardiovascular Myocardial damage associated with ebullism is caused by stretching of the myocardium and anoxia (11). Heart rate rises the first 20 seconds (12), then drops to 40% of baseline at sixty seconds (12). By 2 minutes the arterial pressure wave is lost (13), but the cardiac contractility is maintained at least 5-7 minutes (14). Apneic animals resumed spontaneous respirations within 30 seconds of recompression as long as the heart continued to beat, but could not be resuscitated once asystole occurred (15). If our patient has a pulse, we might get him back.

Central Nervous System In rapid or explosive decompression above 60,000 feet, CNS damage is due to decreased cerebral blood flow and global cerebral anoxia (16). Little evidence of herniation is noted (16), though some damage to cerebral white matter and myelinated spinal cord is seen (13). Cases of accidental rapid and explosive decompression to date have not shown any lasting neurological damage (17, 18), though this includes only 2 cases. Our astronaut-patient may be rehabilitatable

Answer 2

Not exactly. Mostly in movies.

I worked with giant high vacuum equipment when I was younger. A fly flew into the chamber, which I didn't learn about, until I finished my experiment. The fly was dead but the exoskeleton remained in tack. Just as 2 atmospheres of pressure won't make you implode, going from 1 atmosphere to vacuum of space (nearly zero atmosphere) should not make you explode. You will die. Liquids may start to freeze as some liquid would "boil" off the skin, lungs, eyes, etc. Most organ would become expanded. With time, the person would dry up. That is my guess since human skin is quite pliable and should be able to take one atmosphere of internal pressure.

Answer 3

Without a spacesuit or anything, the person is not going to explode.

Contrary to the other answers, even though the atmosphere exerts pressure on our bodies the pressure is counterbalanced by the air and blood in your lungs. Therefore in space, when you are left without any protection, all of the air would leave your lungs and then the pressure within you and outside you would be fairly equal so you do not explode.

Answer 4

First of all no one would be able to go out there without a suit! they would die before they can think about low pressure. And also how can a man go outside the atmosphere without a spaceship??? The gravity won't let it!!! I really don't get this question, sorry.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

No, air would simply rush out of him. The differences in pressure are not enough to cause an explosion.

Answer 7

I'm not sure if our skin would hold our body in tact or not. I have seen things dumped in to space, and it seems they pretty much hold their shape.

With string Theory, something very much stranger might happen!

Answer 8

He may not explode, but it would still be a most unpleasant way to die.

Answer 9

Not really explode but certainly distort & distend & puff up in
a very ugly death...

Answer 10

You've heard of the big bang?