Does the dead human body decompose in the space or moon?

Answer 1

Although plenty's been written on the effect a total vacuum would have on a live human body, there's little information about the effects on a corpse. Based on what we've read, however, we'll venture a scenario.

Many of the same processes that cause a body to decompose on Earth would continue in space, since they don't require oxygen. Your intestinal system is host to millions of tiny bacteria that begin to "digest" you as soon as you kick the bucket. On a more elemental level, dying cells release enzymes that break down various proteins and molecules.

Contrary to urban legend, your eyes would not burst and your body would not explode when exposed to a total vacuum. Your body would experience internal ruptures as the pressure drops, but skin, even dead skin, is a fairly resilient container.

We assume that since water vaporizes in a vacuum, eventually your body would become entirely desiccated. You'd also be exposed to all sorts of radiation. Ultimately this would turn you into an interstellar Slim Jim. Lovely image, no?

Answer 2

Things decompose because they are made of matter that is digested by micro organisms. Many micro organisms within the body would start to break down the body. These organisms are, on the whole, aerobic which means they need oxygen in which to transpire. If there is no oxygen in outer space then there will be no microbes and thus no decomposition. The cells of the body would still contain a certain amount of oxygen which aerobic microbes could live on for a time. Not all of space is a perfect vacuum so there is the possibility of some microbes being able to survive and there are certainly microbes on things like meteors so some decomposition may take place in some exceptional situations but generally if the body were suspended in the void of outer space only the microbes that were already on it (or in it) would break it down and the majority of those being aerobic would not survive for long. Anaerobic microbes would continue but the process would take far longer than in an atmosphere with oxygen in it which may well lead to a kind of mummified state.

Answer 3

No human bodies don't decompose in space.Astronauts lost in space and dead remain revolving in the space forever.And as far as moon is considered, it's soil has no decomposing bacteria so it also does not decompose dead bodies.

Answer 4

Although the normal processes might be able to occur at regular temperatures, they would not occur in the cold temperatures of space or the moon, therefore the body would not decompose. Those bacteria aren't going to be digesting the body if they are frozen.

Answer 5

No the body does not decompose in the space or moon because the bacteria .i.e. the decomposers are found in the soil & not in the space. they cannot live with out soil.

Answer 6

well, theoretically, yes. the body would have all of the normal bacteria on it, and then any bacteria that it aquires from the time of death to it's arrival in outer space. if the bacteria are to survive, they would be the kind that can live in a low oxygen environment and there are plenty of those to decompose a body. I think it would probably take longer for the whole thing to happen given the low oxygen environment and lack of life/bacteria in general up there.

Answer 7

tes! to some extent it will decompose & every thing else has been said by the first person but definately it will take hundreds or should i say thousands of earth years to decompose as compare to few days on earth as lack of oxygen & lack of proper decomposing bacteria present in oxygen present environment. So finally decomposition will definateky take place but it is really very very slow & decomposition process may take up to thousands of years to decompose a body but I dont think it will be enough to decompose a body fully.so to some extent decomposition will take place.

Answer 8

No. (Assuming it was not in a pressurized spacesuit.)

Although bacteria don't need oxygen, they do need to maintain an internal pressure. Bacteria would not survive in a vacuum.

Secondly, it is brutally cold. Any water that did not evaporate (such as water in both the corpse's cells and in the bacteria) would freeze. Some bacteria might actually survive this freezing process if thawed out ... but they certainly couldn't do much decomposing while in this state.

Answer 9

no.. there is no bacteria in space so the body most likely not to decompose..

Answer 10

I think it will but it may take some more time as the situation will not be ideal for various types of bacteria to grow and make impact on the body in both the situations.