4 ms·

Thinking out loud here, as I'm not a physicist or engineer: I wonder if this type of mutation could impact space suit design - would a suit engineered to Tibeta

Thinking out loud here, as I'm not a physicist or engineer: I wonder if this type of mutation could impact space suit design - would a suit engineered to Tibetan environmental standards (lower pressure, 40% oxygen) for Tibetans, end up being better in other areas? (lighter, more reliable, easier to manoeuvre in)

nether 13y ago
Probably, but it'd only be comfortable for Tibetans. NASA space suits are pressurized to an altitude of 6,000 ft, which is about the same as a commercial airliner cabin. You could loosen that requirement for hardier astronauts, but it'd greatly restrict your astronaut candidate pool.
- Crito 13y ago
  > "NASA space suits are pressurized to an altitude of 6,000 ft, which is about the same as a commercial airliner cabin." This seems to check out, but I am not sure how to reconcile it with astronauts needing to prebreath for a few hours before an EVA (since the ISS atmosphere is comparable to Earth's at sea-level). From what I can tell most passengers can tolerate up to 8000 feet unpressurized, and although the planes climb fast enough to pop your ears I've certainly never heard of anybody getting the bends. I think maybe the difference is the difference between oxygen pressure, and the total gas pressure? Space suits (unlike modern spacecraft) use pure oxygen.
  - maxerickson 13y ago
    Wikipedia says they prebreath to get rid of nitrogen. If I read correctly, they are breathing pure oxygen at a pressure that is equivalent to breathing air at 6000 ft. So that agrees with your last paragraph.
- roberthahn 13y ago
  I agree that it would greatly restrict the candidate pool. My thinking was that if the tradeoffs were significant (and positive) it might change the dynamics of space exploration. Granted, this isn't likely to come about; I was just thinking out loud.

4 ms·

Thinking out loud here, as I'm not a physicist or engineer: I wonder if this type of mutation could impact space suit design - would a suit engineered to Tibeta

by roberthahn 13y ago

nether 13y ago
Probably, but it'd only be comfortable for Tibetans. NASA space suits are pressurized to an altitude of 6,000 ft, which is about the same as a commercial airliner cabin. You could loosen that requirement for hardier astronauts, but it'd greatly restrict your astronaut candidate pool.
- Crito 13y ago
  > "NASA space suits are pressurized to an altitude of 6,000 ft, which is about the same as a commercial airliner cabin." This seems to check out, but I am not sure how to reconcile it with astronauts needing to prebreath for a few hours before an EVA (since the ISS atmosphere is comparable to Earth's at sea-level). From what I can tell most passengers can tolerate up to 8000 feet unpressurized, and although the planes climb fast enough to pop your ears I've certainly never heard of anybody getting the bends. I think maybe the difference is the difference between oxygen pressure, and the total gas pressure? Space suits (unlike modern spacecraft) use pure oxygen.
  - maxerickson 13y ago
    Wikipedia says they prebreath to get rid of nitrogen. If I read correctly, they are breathing pure oxygen at a pressure that is equivalent to breathing air at 6000 ft. So that agrees with your last paragraph.
- roberthahn 13y ago
  I agree that it would greatly restrict the candidate pool. My thinking was that if the tradeoffs were significant (and positive) it might change the dynamics of space exploration. Granted, this isn't likely to come about; I was just thinking out loud.