From: Doug Jones (random@qnet.com)
Date: Sat Dec 04 1999 - 09:01:05 MST
"Robert J. Bradbury" wrote:
EvMick: Would sweat in a vacumn cool you?
Me: Yes, this is a strength of the skinsuit concept, particularly for Mars.
> True, but its questionable whether you can consider the Mars atmosphere
> a vacuum. Scientists talk about the "atmosphere" of Mercury and its
> pressure is much lower than Mars.
Surface pressure on Mars is generally under 10 mb, far less than the vapor
pressure of water at body temperature. Sweat would *boil* on the skin...
this is close enough to a vacuum for practical purposes :)
A bigger problem for skinsuit wearers on Mars would be the peroxides in the
soil which turn to alkaline hydroxides when wetted. (I know from personal
experience just how nasty alkali burns can be, my right eye has permanent
corneal scarring.) Completely dust-tight overgarments would be difficult
to achieve, and airlock procedures would have to include rather fastidious
cleaning steps.
-- Doug Jones Rocket Plumber, XCOR Aerospace http://www.xcor-aerospace.com
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