Difference between revisions of "Atmosphere"

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(New page: There are several different types of atmospheres to consider. Lunar atmosphere[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_the_Moon] Earth's atmosphere[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%2...)
 
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There are several different types of atmospheres to consider.
 
There are several different types of atmospheres to consider.
  

Revision as of 18:03, 5 April 2007


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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.