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Space Exploration

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  • $\begingroup$ this question is underdefined; a station spinning sufficiently quickly could keep air in an open "pool" of some depth. I think the relevant parameters are depth, temperature, acceleration, and composition. I can't think offhand or any combination of parameters that would make this scheme more sensible for satellite repair than putting the technician in a spacesuit, though. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 3, 2024 at 23:10
  • $\begingroup$ Gravity approx equiv to earth. Working in suits is a terrible pain in the backside in practice.. very slow and unwieldy. It's also likely to be safer? Apparently airlocks just vent the air so they lose air overtime. So it might save air? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 3, 2024 at 23:47
  • $\begingroup$ As far as depth goes there's a number of proposals for different size stations ... O'Neill cylinder has a radius of 4km. Min radius is apparently 220m ?? quora.com/… $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 4, 2024 at 0:00
  • $\begingroup$ Airlocks don't vent all of their atmosphere, they typically depressurize to a few psi by pumping air back into the station, then vent the rest, but that's mainly to reduce the time that astronauts have to spend in the airlock. So yes there is some air loss each time they use the airlock which adds up over time, but that is with current airlocks. Presumably future airlocks will be able to minimize the loss. Especially if it's just a satellite in there when they can take their time and pump out most of the air. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 4, 2024 at 13:45
  • $\begingroup$ Yep. Apparently the Space Shuttle air lock vented gas (I hear)? The Space Station air lock does not. What the Shuttle did is kind of irrelevant in this case however. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 5, 2024 at 5:33