On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 16:32:51 -0400, Lins wrote:
Would anyone remember the scene in 2001: a space odyssey wherein David
Bowman has to basically bust his way back into the spaceship Discovery?

He's not wearing a helmet and he takes about 5 seconds before he starts
closing the powered door ...

... wouldn't his head have been freeze dried
instantly? Or wouldn't the vacuum have done something horrible to it?

Studies, experiments, and at least one accident indicate that a person
might stay conscious for up to 30 seconds, so the scene is possible.

In "Mission to Mars", an astronaut commits suicide by removing his
helmet and dying instantly. That happened much too fast (and
cleanly).

-paul-
--
Paul E. Black )