Spacesuits are not just a fashion statement; they are a vital piece of equipment for anyone venturing into space. A YouTube video has illustrated the importance of wearing a spacesuit when leaving Earth’s atmosphere.
Unlike forgetting your trainers on sports day or a swim costume for swimming, entering space without a spacesuit is not something you can simply make do without. NASA and other space agencies ensure astronauts are always equipped with spacesuits when they embark on missions.
But if you’ve ever been curious about the consequences of entering space without one, the answer is rather grim.
DG EYE science on YouTube has produced a video that explains what would happen if an astronaut was ‘accidentally thrown out of their spacesuit.’
While this isn’t a common scenario for most of us, it’s intriguing to learn about the potential outcomes – even if they are fatal.
Contrary to what some might believe, the video clarifies that you wouldn’t explode in space. That particular worry can be dismissed.
However, you might find the reality of the situation equally unsettling.
Initially, the gases within your body would start to expand, causing the air in your lungs to potentially rupture lung tissue.
Within mere seconds, the water on the surface of your body, such as your eyes, skin, and mouth, would begin to evaporate, and the water in your blood would start boiling.
Your body would then swell, resembling a large human balloon, but the elasticity and strength of your skin would withstand this pressure.
Eventually, after losing consciousness, your heart would slow and stop, resulting in death by asphyxiation, with the body turning grey.
According to Popular Science, an astronaut exposed to a space vacuum would experience the vaporization of their blood and bodily fluids within 10 seconds.
Unconsciousness would follow in about 15 seconds as the body expands and the lungs collapse.
The unfortunate astronaut would likely perish within 30 seconds due to asphyxiation or decompression.
As one YouTube commenter put it: “Enlargement of body parts? Say no more.”
Another added, “Props to the guy who went to space for us to know all this.”
For those interested in exploring more of these graphic simulations, there is also a video depicting what happens if one were to fall into a jet airplane engine.
This nightmarish scenario begins with a human figure being drawn into the engine, quickly disintegrating into red particles, akin to a tomato in a blender.
The close-up visuals reveal how swiftly death would occur, with the animation vanishing in a matter of seconds.
Remember, these are just simulations meant to provide educational insights.