Difference between revisions of "Atmosphere"

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There are several different types of atmospheres to consider.
 
There are several different types of atmospheres to consider.
  
[[Luna|Lunar]] atmosphere[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_the_Moon]
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*[[Lunar atmosphere]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_the_Moon]
Earth's atmosphere[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_atmosphere]
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*Earth's atmosphere[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_atmosphere]
Atmospheric pressure on Earth[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure]
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*Atmospheric pressure on Earth[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure]
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*[[Cabin Pressurization]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_pressurization][http://oregonstate.edu/~atwaterj/merc.htm][http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=605848]
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*[[Lunar Settlement Artificial Atmosphere]]
  
The most important for Lunar development is the pressure inside your [[Space Suits|space suit]] or habitat.  Here is a listing of the relative pressures of other environments and the percentage oxygen in each.
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The most important for Lunar development is the pressure inside your [[Space suit|space suit]] or habitat.  Here is a listing of the relative pressures of other environments and the percentage oxygen in each.
  
 
{| style="border:1px solid black"
 
{| style="border:1px solid black"
 
|- style="background:#BFBFBF"
 
|- style="background:#BFBFBF"
 
|Location
 
|Location
|Sea Level Oxygen
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|Oxygen Percentage
 
|Pressure
 
|Pressure
 
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
 
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
|[[Terrestrial Air|Earth]]  
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|[[Terrestrial Air|Earth]] at Sea Level
 
|(21%)  
 
|(21%)  
 
|101.3 kPa<BR/>
 
|101.3 kPa<BR/>
 
|-  
 
|-  
|[[Mercury]] Program  
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|Leadville Colorado, 10196 ft, or 3107 meters
 +
|(21%)
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|69.6 kPa<BR/>
 +
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
 +
|Denver Colorado, 5295 ft, 1613 m
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|(21%)
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|83.4 kPa<BR/>
 +
|-
 +
|LaPaz, 3700 m
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|(21%)
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|62.0 kPa<BR />
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|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
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|[[Program Mercury|Mercury]] Program
 +
|(100%)
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|34.5 kPa<BR/>
 +
|-
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|[[Gemini Program|Gemini]] Program
 
|(100%)  
 
|(100%)  
 
|34.5 kPa<BR/>
 
|34.5 kPa<BR/>
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|[[Space Shuttle]]  
 
|[[Space Shuttle]]  
 
|(28.5%)  
 
|(28.5%)  
|70.0 kPa<BR/>
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|70.0 kPa
|-
 
|[[Cabin Pressurization]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_pressurization]
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
  
==Hazards: [[Lack of Breathable Atmosphere]] and [[Improper Pressure]]==
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==Hazards==
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<small>Main Articles: [[Lack of Breathable Atmosphere]] and [[Improper Pressure]]</small>
  
 
Under most circumstances, if you don't get enough [[oxygen]] pressure you will get altitude sickness[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness#Altitude_acclimatization], aka [[Hypoxia]].
 
Under most circumstances, if you don't get enough [[oxygen]] pressure you will get altitude sickness[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness#Altitude_acclimatization], aka [[Hypoxia]].
  
In the extreme case of a severe leak in space, you have to consider what the Death Zone does to climbers on Everest [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_zone].
+
In the extreme case of a severe leak in space, you have to consider what the Death Zone does to climbers on Everest [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_zone]. You should also consider "the bends," which results from nitrogen bubbles in the blood when depressurizing too fast.
 +
 
 +
Most desirable for [[Architecture List|long term habitats in the moon]] and in space is somewhere around 40kPa total with about 60% oxygen.  In the event of an sudden [[depressurization]] this ratio means you do not have a hard transition to switch to your backup breathing systems.  The rest is [[Nitrogen]], water vapor and trace amounts of [[Carbon Dioxide|CO2]] which can be isolated quite easily.
 +
 
 +
== See Also ==
 +
 
 +
*[[Lunar Settlement Artificial Atmosphere]]
 +
 
 +
 
  
Most desirable for long term habitats in space is somewhere around 40kPa total with about 60% oxygen.  In the event of an sudden [[depressurization]] this ratio means you do not have a hard transition to switch to your backup breathing systems.  The rest is [[Nitrogen]], [[Water Vapor|water vapor]] and trace amounts of [[Carbon Dioxide|CO2]] which can be isolated quite easily.
 
  
 
{{hazards}}
 
{{hazards}}

Latest revision as of 05:44, 9 May 2012

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There are several different types of atmospheres to consider.

The most important for Lunar development is the pressure inside your space suit or habitat. Here is a listing of the relative pressures of other environments and the percentage oxygen in each.

Location Oxygen Percentage Pressure
Earth at Sea Level (21%) 101.3 kPa
Leadville Colorado, 10196 ft, or 3107 meters (21%) 69.6 kPa
Denver Colorado, 5295 ft, 1613 m (21%) 83.4 kPa
LaPaz, 3700 m (21%) 62.0 kPa
Mercury Program (100%) 34.5 kPa
Gemini Program (100%) 34.5 kPa
Apollo Program (100%) 34.5 kPa
Skylab (70%) 34.5kPa
Space Shuttle (28.5%) 70.0 kPa


Hazards

Main Articles: Lack of Breathable Atmosphere and Improper Pressure

Under most circumstances, if you don't get enough oxygen pressure you will get altitude sickness[7], aka Hypoxia.

In the extreme case of a severe leak in space, you have to consider what the Death Zone does to climbers on Everest [8]. You should also consider "the bends," which results from nitrogen bubbles in the blood when depressurizing too fast.

Most desirable for long term habitats in the moon and in space is somewhere around 40kPa total with about 60% oxygen. In the event of an sudden depressurization this ratio means you do not have a hard transition to switch to your backup breathing systems. The rest is Nitrogen, water vapor and trace amounts of CO2 which can be isolated quite easily.

See Also



Hazards