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Space travel comes with numerous challenges and harsh environments, making it crucial to create conditions similar to those on Earth for life to evolve and thrive. Spacesuits allow astronauts to venture outside the spacecraft for a short time by providing air, water, pressure, and body protection. What would happen if humans were in the vacuum of space without these advanced suits? How long could humans survive in the space environment?
According to Stefaan de Mey, a strategist at the European Space Agency (ESA), in a very short time, about 10 – 15 seconds, humans would lose consciousness due to oxygen deprivation. In the darkness of space, oxygen becomes a serious issue. “Oxygen starts to expand and rupture the lungs, causing it to boil and bubble up the blood, immediately leading to asphyxiation and lethal effects on the human body,” Mey explained.
Divers face similar risks when water pressure decreases as they swim up from great depths. Before entering space without protective suits, one needs to expel as much air from the lungs as possible. Complete lack of pressure also causes various life-threatening issues, although not instantaneous. Bodily fluids like saliva and tears would start to boil. The human body would swell, but the skin’s elasticity can endure the pressure changes. In the best-case scenario, you would have a few seconds before depleting the oxygen in the bloodstream, leading to unconsciousness. Without intervention, brain death would occur within a few minutes unless you are rescued and brought back to the safe, oxygen-rich environment of the spacecraft and revived.
In addition to providing essential oxygen and pressure regulation, spacesuits also protect astronauts from various threats and hazards. “There are issues with temperature, radiation, and threats from meteoroids,” Mey explained. “So, spacesuits are designed to protect the astronaut’s body in space.” Whether an astronaut is under direct sunlight or in the shadow, they will experience extreme temperatures, ranging from -150 to 120 degrees Celsius in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These conditions can cause burns or freezing.
Spacesuits also shield against various types of radiation. In LEO, prolonged exposure to solar electromagnetic radiation can cause health issues such as radiation poisoning and an increased risk of cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) rays also cause skin burns. Additionally, particles from solar storms reaching astronauts in space add to the severity of the issue.
Space debris and meteoroids pose another threat. They travel at speeds of tens of kilometers per second and are a danger to satellites, spacecraft, and spacewalk activities. Although they have a low chance of affecting human survival, the protective suits are designed with multiple layers to safeguard astronauts from any space debris or meteoroid flying around in orbit.