Can a person survive a minute in space without a suit?

Answer 1

"Contrary to imagery in the public media (as in such films as Outland, Total Recall, and Sunshine), a short term exposure to vacuum of up to 30 seconds is unlikely to cause permanent physical damage. Thanks to the containing tension of the skin, the body will not explode, though swelling may occur. Due to the lack of a medium to allow conduction or convection, loss of heat is by radiation only, which would take place in a very slow process. Therefore, there is no danger of immediately freezing.
Some physical damage may result if the victim attempted to hold his/her breath on introduction to the low pressure environment. In that case, a ruptured lung may result from the imbalance in pressure. Damage may also be done to ear drums, and the gastric system. Without the protection of the atmosphere, solar radiation, particularly ultraviolet rays may cause severe sunburn in a few seconds. After 10 seconds, decompression sickness (the bends) may also result.

However, the primary threat is of asphyxiation. In the low pressure environment, normal gas exchange would instead cause the rapid deoxygenation of the bloodstream. After up to 15 seconds, the deoxygenated blood would reach the brain, and loss of consciousness would result. Death would gradually follow after two minutes of exposure - though the limits are uncertain. If actions are taken quickly, and normal pressure restored within around 90 seconds, the victim may well make a full recovery."

That is taken from a scientific source, I'm sorry I don't know who published it or when.

Answer 2

With no atmospheric pressure, water will not stay at a liquid state. If ice in space is warmed it will sublimate, that is, go directly from a solid to a gaseous state having no liquid form during transition. The human body is already warm so when exposed to the absence of pressure in space, all the water in your body would begin boiling. As the liquid turns to gas, every cell would rupture from the pressure. I am unsure if you would explode, but your life would end within a second. You would not have time to die by suffocating or freezing. .

Answer 3

Yeah, I think Patrick's was the most accurate answer. Holding your breath is about the surest way to guarantee you _won't_ survive, because the pressure difference will rupture the alveoli in your lungs, thus guaranteeing that you won't be able to get any more oxygen even when air is restored.

I don't know whether it would be a good idea to hyperventilate before being exposed to a vacuum. On the one hand, the extra oxygen in your blood would help you survive longer; on the other hand, it would worsen the effects of the bends.

Answer 4

A person exposed to the vacuum of space would be dead long before that. With no pressure on the body, the unfortunate soul suffocates and dies of the bends at the same time. Then the body mummifies because all the water escapes. Death by exposure to space is neither quick, nor painless.

Answer 5

Not even 1 second.Holding your breath only makes an instantaneous death more explosive.It isn't about the lack of air,that's why holding your breath wont work.It is because outer space is a vacuum.The difference in pressure from your body to the vacuum would cause every cell in your body to instantaneously explode.A gruesome,but very quick death.

Answer 6

The temperatures and vacuum of space would quickly kill you.so no, you could not survive even for a minute.

just curious as to why someone would give a thumbs down Faologyto as he gave a correct concise answer...strange

Answer 7

Very doubtful. Exposure to a vacuum would cause all the fluids in your body to boil away, rupturing your eyeballs , eardrums and lungs. The low temperature in space would snap freeze what ever was left.

Answer 8

Good answer Patrick.

Answer 9

no. the lack of pressure in space ould cause extreme pain and could result i eyes being sucked out. the person has a likelyhood of exploding as well

Answer 10

NO HE WILL DEAD WITH IN A FEW SECONDS BECAUSE OF BREATHING PROBLEM