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From: speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: re: 2001 - (nf)
Message-ID: <3156@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Oct-83 15:49:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3156
Posted: Sun Oct 16 15:49:21 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Oct-83 23:41:57 EDT
References: <2080@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 34

Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: re: 2001 - (nf)

	  Here's another technical error for you.  The scene where Dave Bowman must
	  endure the vacuum of space while transferring from the pod to the Discovery.
	  (He forgot his helmet, remember.)  It appeared that he had no problem 
	  surviving the vacuum for some 5 to 10 seconds which I find impossible.
	  When there was no pressure, there was nothing to keep the liquids of his 
	  body from immediate vaporization (boiling).  He should of been dead in 
	  the first second.  Space is cold and empty, and we are not well adapted
	  to 0 pressure.     

This was the subject of much debate about a year ago on the net.  I dearly
hope we don't start into it again...

According to Clarke, you can withstand a vacum for about 30 seconds.
I think a NASA study on the subject came up with a similar number.

AT any rate, he would NOT have died the first second.  It takes a while
for someone's fluids to ''boil''... unless the fluids are exposed to a raw
vacum, why SHOULD they?

His eardrums might have burst though.  He had his eyes closed so he was 
covered there.

I think the real flaw in this scene is the rock steadyness of the space pod.
Remember Newton's laws?  I guess Kubrick didn't.  The pod should have been
blown away from Discovery.  Or did the pod's hands have a good grip on
the situation (ACK)?
-- 

					- Speaker
					speaker@umcp-cs
					speaker.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay