[net.space] Would a candle...

fisher@scotty.DEC (07/30/85)

> ...the current space program uses a pure O2 atmosphere...

"That turns out not to be the case."  Apollo and Gemini and Mercury used
pure O2, but even on those, it was at reduced pressure in space so that the
partial pressure of O2 was about the same as on Earth.  While sitting on the
pad, it was a different story, the complete telling of which would include
the Apollo I fire.

But in any case, the shuttle uses a more-or-less normal earth-type atmosphere,
except in the space suits (that's why they need to pre-breath pure O2 for
several hours before going out in suits...to purge nitrogen from their bodies).

Burns


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braman@dataio.UUCP (Rick Braman) (08/01/85)

> 
> > ...the current space program uses a pure O2 atmosphere...
> 
> "That turns out not to be the case."  Apollo and Gemini and Mercury used
> pure O2, but even on those, it was at reduced pressure in space so that the
> partial pressure of O2 was about the same as on Earth.  While sitting on the
> pad, it was a different story, the complete telling of which would include
> the Apollo I fire.
>     ^^^^^^^^
> 	ARPA:	fisher%dvinci.dec@decwrl.ARPA

Don't you mean Apollo 7?

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