Difference between revisions of "Atmosphere"
m (categorizing) |
|||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | |||
− | |||
There are several different types of atmospheres to consider. | There are several different types of atmospheres to consider. | ||
Line 22: | Line 20: | ||
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 and trace amounts of CO2 which can be isolated quite easily. | 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 and trace amounts of CO2 which can be isolated quite easily. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category: Life Support]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Air Supply]] |
Revision as of 19:56, 8 June 2007
There are several different types of atmospheres to consider.
Lunar atmosphere[1] Earth's atmosphere[2] Atmospheric pressure on Earth[3]
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.
Earth Sea Level Oxygen (21%) - 101.3 kPa Mercury Program (100%) - 34.5 kPa Apollo Program (100%) - 34.5 kPa Skylab (70%) - 34.5kPa Space Shuttle (28.5%) - 70.0 kPa
Cabin Pressurization[4]
Generally if you don't get enough oxygen pressure you will get altitude sickness[5]
In the extreme case of a severe leak in space, you have to consider what the Death Zone does to climbers on Everest[6]
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 and trace amounts of CO2 which can be isolated quite easily.