4 ms·

I recall a SF story from probably 50 years or so ago where someone had to make a suitless trip between two airlocks in space. According to the story (iirc), the

I recall a SF story from probably 50 years or so ago where someone had to make a suitless trip between two airlocks in space. According to the story (iirc), they survived.

dsimms 5y ago
Are you thinking of Dave in 2001? "Open the pod by doors, Hal." "I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that."
datameta 5y ago
There is also such a scene in a certain 2007 sci-fi film (which I won't name in the interest of avoiding spoilers)
pavel_lishin 5y ago
I remember a few slightly-more-recent examples, though I don't remember where I read them! I _think_ Seveneves had one instance, but that's not specifically what I'm remembering.
retrac 5y ago
The episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where the doctor and engineer are trapped in a cargo bay with burning toxic fuel is, oddly, one of the most "hard science fiction" scenes in the whole show. They decide, given everything on the ship isn't working after a disaster, that they must vent it to space to extinguish the fire, and they have to do so manually, and without suits. So they hyperventilate and exhale as hard as they can. Brace themselves against a support. And then they pop the door. Their hair and clothes ripple as the air rushes out. They get dizzy and have about ten seconds of useful consciousness to start the re-pressurization process. No exploding heads, no instant death. Just a torrent of air and then frost creeping over skin during a profound silence as the seconds run out. Accuracy turned out to have better drama, for once.
- rubicks 5y ago
  So you're saying _Event Horizon_ took rather unrealistic liberties?
- ceejayoz 5y ago
  The Expanse got this right, as well. Early in the series a Belter is shown casually opening his helmet to fix a loose wire after exhaling and dropping his suit pressure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_TEbygCd0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_TEbygCd0
  - nojokes 5y ago
    No, he inhales before rising the visor and exhales before closing it, so it is actually not correct. It was also not the last time they got it wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2WcVXf7Iz8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2WcVXf7Iz8 At least they are consistent.

I recall a SF story from probably 50 years or so ago where someone had to make a suitless trip between two airlocks in space. According to the story (iirc), they survived.

dsimms 5y ago

Are you thinking of Dave in 2001? "Open the pod by doors, Hal." "I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that."

datameta 5y ago

There is also such a scene in a certain 2007 sci-fi film (which I won't name in the interest of avoiding spoilers)

pavel_lishin 5y ago

I remember a few slightly-more-recent examples, though I don't remember where I read them! I _think_ Seveneves had one instance, but that's not specifically what I'm remembering.

retrac 5y ago

The episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where the doctor and engineer are trapped in a cargo bay with burning toxic fuel is, oddly, one of the most "hard science fiction" scenes in the whole show. They decide, given everything on the ship isn't working after a disaster, that they must vent it to space to extinguish the fire, and they have to do so manually, and without suits. So they hyperventilate and exhale as hard as they can. Brace themselves against a support. And then they pop the door. Their hair and clothes ripple as the air rushes out. They get dizzy and have about ten seconds of useful consciousness to start the re-pressurization process. No exploding heads, no instant death. Just a torrent of air and then frost creeping over skin during a profound silence as the seconds run out. Accuracy turned out to have better drama, for once.

rubicks 5y ago
So you're saying _Event Horizon_ took rather unrealistic liberties?
ceejayoz 5y ago
The Expanse got this right, as well. Early in the series a Belter is shown casually opening his helmet to fix a loose wire after exhaling and dropping his suit pressure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_TEbygCd0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_TEbygCd0
- nojokes 5y ago
  No, he inhales before rising the visor and exhales before closing it, so it is actually not correct. It was also not the last time they got it wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2WcVXf7Iz8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2WcVXf7Iz8 At least they are consistent.